2005-11
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/31/2005
ADAMS, Charles Francis (1835-1915) American lawyer, railroad expert, and historian; president of the Union Pacific Railroad, forced out by Jay Gould in 1890. Autograph Letter Signed, “Charles Francis Adams”, 2p. quarto, Boston, December 19, 1892, addressed to William Blanchard, of Washington, D.C., it reads: “I have to acknowledge the recepetion of your letter...requesting me to write yo ua line favoring your action in asking compesnation for services rendered by you at Melbourne, in the affair of the Shenandoah, over and above your ordinary official salary or profits. I have always been sensible of the value of your services on that occasion, and have been careful to express it in my judgement as an arbitrator upon that case. But I cannot agee with you in regard to the manner in which you put your claim. You did your duty energetically and well and it certainly was of great value to the government in establishing its proof. You say taht if you had been less active, the demand would have been less. Very true--If you had done nothing, it would likewise have been lost. But in the meanwhile what would have been your position in regard to your performance of your duty as an officer responsible to the government? You will permit me to say that I cannot perceive any ground for your petition on the score of extra services. You did every thing in your power, and that was what you were stictly bound to do. But is it not an unusual prcatice in all Governments, where a public servant had manifested energy and fidelity at critical moments in his public service, to mark their sense of it by some special notice or reward. It is not without its value as an example to stimulate others to do likewise. Should it be the pleasure of Congress to consider your petition in that sense, and grant you something as a reward for your activity, under circumstances of great difficulty, it would not appear to me to be a waste of money...” VG.
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