Reverdy Johnson Signed Letter Prominent Lawyer Dred Scott, Mary Surratt
Reverdy Johnson Signed Letter - Prominent Lawyer - Dred Scott, Mary Surratt. Offered for your consideration is a letter, penned (probably by a secretary) in 1872, signed at the conclusion by one of the prominent lawyers in the mid-nineteenth century. Written while in " Baltimore " on " 24 July 1872 " and addressed to " My Dear Mr Washburn ", this letter requests of the recipient a favor while friends of the author are in Paris, France. The body of the letter states that Mrs.
Denison, the widow of the late Charles Denison, (who I suppose you knew as one of the Representatives of Pennsylvania) will be in Paris, accompanied by her Daughters and her relative Mr T. Nottingham Williams for several weeks.
He continues by asking that " I beg leave to make them known to you, and to request that you show them any attention in your power during their stay ". The letter closes " Truly Your Friend ", followed by the scrawled signature of " Reverdy Johnson ". The letter was sent to His Excellency / E. Washburn / Paris (Elihu Benjamin Washburn, serving as United States Minister to France), as noted at the bottom of the page. An interesting letter to a United States diplomat, signed by a prominent lawyer.
Sadly, the letter is affixed to another page, probably from an autograph album. Was born on May 21, 1796 in Annapolis, Maryland and was an 1812 graduate of St. John's College, after which he began the study of law, being admitted to the bar three years later.
That year he moved to Baltimore, where he was appointed chief commissioner of insolvent debtors of Maryland. From March 4, 1845 through March 7, 1849, Johnson served as a United States Senator from Maryland, after which he served as the United States Attorney General from March 8. 1849 until July 21,1850.
Though personally opposed to slavery, in 1857 Johnson represented the slave-owning defendant in the historic Dred Scott v. After the outbreak of the Civil War, he was prominent in his efforts to keep Maryland from seceding from the Union. He served as a Maryland delegate to the Peace Convention of 1861 and from 1861 to 1862 he served in the Maryland House of Delegates. During this period, Johnson defended Mary Surratt, one of the principal defendants in the Lincoln assassination (Johnson was unsuccessful in his defense and Mary Surratt was convicted and hanged). On June 12, 1868, he was appointed minister to the United Kingdom, though his term didn't begin until September 14.
He served until May 13, 1869, his most important contribution being the Johnson-Clarendon Treaty (settling disputes from the war, including the Alabama Claims), though the Senate failed to ratify it. Reverdy Johnson died on February 10, 1876 when he hit his head on the sharp corner of the granite base course of the Maryland governor's mansion. He was buried in Green Mount Cemetery in Baltimore, Maryland. The presently offered item exhibits signs of expected period use, followed by, as mentioned earlier, time spent attached to an autograph album page (still attached). Light toning is noted across the entire surface, imparting to the paper a beige to light tan hue.
This toning is slightly darker at the edges, along the folds, and on the second page, possibly due to the substance affixing the letter to the album page. Two horizontal and one angular folds are present, though none appear to seriously affect the overall integrity of the paper. Wrinkling is noted on both pages, probably a result of the substance used to attach the piece to the album page. The contrast is sharp and bold, with the text being relatively easy to read. Johnson's signature, applied in a different ink, exhibits signs of smearing and minor fading (this can also be seen in the address at the bottom).The edges of the letter are straight, while the cutting of the album page is somewhat ragged and irregular. The letter measures approximately 5 x 8 inches when closed and 8 x 10 inches when opened, with the album page being approximately? Inch larger around the back page.
Would be a nice addition to any Civil War, political, or law related collection. If you have any additional questions regarding the condition of this item, please ask before purchasing. If you have any questions regarding this item, please ask before purchasing.
He has contributed to numerous reference books within the industry, as well as being a co-author of The Comprehensive Catalog and History of Confederate Bonds, 2. He is an authorized submitter to NGC, PCGS, and PMG, a diamond founding member of Coin Dealers Helping Coin Dealers and a supporter of the Industry Council for Tangible Assets. American Coins and Collectibles can be found at many of the state and local coin shows.