2008-09
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/31/2008
KELLEY, William D. (1814-1890) Republican. State court judge in Pennsylvania, 1846; delegate to Republican National Convention from Pennsylvania, 1860; U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania 4th District, 1861-90; died in office 1890; candidate for Republican nomination for Vice President, 1868. Autograph Letter Signed, "Wm D. Kelley"3p. octavo, Washington, December 4, 1865, and reads in part: "...I have wanted for days to thank you for your admirable sketch of Gettysburg. ...well digested thoughts...I envy you the authorship of one brief passage. It is your graphic description of the commencement of the battle...what I am grateful to you for chiefly is that you remembered that you were born a Pennsylvanian. I would withhold nothing that is due to any other state, but we have so much of the story of the past and have done so much in the recent struggle that we have but to emulate Mass - Ky. Va, & the older states of the west in honoring our own, that we may become generous to others, and yet make our posterity proud of their ancestors & our own rich old commonwealth...Bravo for Congress! Indeed I am disposed to shout Bully for Congress! I am cordially informed that the message has been modified since the caucus adjoined...I know that mad radical who had just give notice that he would introduce a bill to make suffrage universal in the Dist of Columbia...The men who were to have divided on mislead us - follow the magnificent land of the northwest. It would make you tingle to hear Ben Lane of Mo. Clark of Kansas and other Western men talk of the necessity of disfranchising the white traitors and enfranchising the colored patriots..." Fine.
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