Our Collection

At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 85,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World through the end of the twentieth century.

Gadsden, James (1788-1858) to John Cripps

High-resolution images are available to schools and libraries via subscription to American History, 1493-1943. Check to see if your school or library already has a subscription. Or click here for more information. You may also order a pdf of the image from us here.

Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03587.37 Author/Creator: Gadsden, James (1788-1858) Place Written: Charleston, South Carolina Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 24 October 1858 Pagination: 4 p. : address ; 27.5 x 21.5 cm. Order a Copy

Writes to his Secretary about his lack of correspondence. Has had to rely on newspapers for information about the state of affairs in Mexico. Mentions that the possession of Cuba takes precedence over Mexican diplomacy and that Spain and Great Britain will be placated with payments on their claims in Mexico. Discusses the dirty politics that have claimed Washington. Mentions that all the cities that have been claimed by the United States were once missions and wonders if those lands are transferable to him for colonization purposes. Imprint illegible.

Gadsden was a railroad promoter and advocated a Southern rail system, the purpose of which would be to control the trade of the South and the West, thereby freeing those regions from their dependency on the North. To further this end he promoted Southern commercial conventions, and at a convention in 1845 he boldly urged the construction of a railroad to the Pacific. In 1853, when Jefferson Davis was Secretary of War in Pierce's cabinet, Gadsden was appointed minister to Mexico to negotiate for territory along the border. The result was the Gadsden Purchase. He was recalled in 1856 for exceeding his instructions. Cripps was General Gadsden's Secretary and a sawyer by profession.

Gadsden, James, 1788-1858
Cripps, John S., fl. 1820-1875

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources