Beschreibung:

Superb collection of autographed letters, broadsides, patriotic covers, and additional Confederate ephemera dating from 1860-1861. Highlighted by a remarkable contemporary manuscript which heralds the intent of Confederate luminaries to establish “a new confederation” and urges South Carolina not to act precipitously against Ft. Sumter until that confederation is formed. The collection presents a fascinating glimpse into a country on the verge of war. Taken together, the items included in this collection of Civil War memorabilia give witness to the highly combustible atmosphere that was the United States in 1860 and 1861. Offering both personal and distinct glimpses into the year our nation was torn apart, together with a variety of war-time ephemera from the “Year of Secession,” this collection is excellent for both research and exhibition at an institution or private collection. The prelude to the Civil War was long and complicated, and the issues which plagued the young United States of America as it wrestled with sectional conflict are demonstrated in this collection as well. From concerns regarding slavery, state versus national allegiances, and the difficulties of establishing a new government, the documents reveal secessionist leaders boldly forging ahead with a Confederate government and preparing for war. In the midst of a rapidly evolving situation and the increased tensions which characterized 1860-1861, these documents further demonstrate Southern enthusiasm and hopes for a better future, while the few Northern letters in the collection demonstrate a sense of foreboding pessimism. In total, the collection contains an original copy of the Hayne/Ft. Sumter manuscript, 38 autographed letters, one small piece of the flag which flew over Ft. Sumter, three broadsides, one pamphlet, seven patriotic covers, and two Confederate secession cockades. The centerpiece of the collection is the Hayne/Ft. Sumter manuscript. In this January 15, 1861, letter sent from “Washington City,” Jefferson Davis (1808-1889) and nine other southern politicians urge South Carolina to defer hostilities in the standoff with the U.S. government over Ft. Sumter. The authors call upon the recipient, South Carolina Attorney General Isaac W. Hayne, who was acting at the time as South Carolina’s envoy to President Buchanan, to wait to deliver his demand that Ft. Sumter be surrendered until after the first meeting of the Provisional Congress of the Confederate States. “We are apprized that you visit Washington as an Envoy from the state of South Carolina, bearing a communication from the Governor of your state to the President of the United States, in relation to Fort Sumpter [sic]. Without knowing its contents, we venture to request you to defer its delivery to the President for a few days or until you and he have considered the suggestions which we beg leave to submit.” After laying out arguments that possession of Fort Sumter by United States troops was not undertaken with “with any hostile or unfriendly purpose towards your state, but merely as property of the United States, which the President deems it his duty to protect and preserve,” the letter then turns towards its central purpose, “to prevent war or the shedding of blood. We represent states which have already seceded from the United States, or will have done so before the first of February next, and which will meet your state in Convention on or before the 15th of that month. Our people feel that they have a common destiny with your people and expect to form with them in that convention a new confederation and provisional government. We must and will share your fortunes, suffering with you the evils of war, if it cannot be avoided, and enjoying with you the blessings of peace if it can be preserved…. We, therefore, trust that an arrangement will be agreed on between you and the President, at least ‘till the 15th February next, by which time you and our States may in Convention devise a wise,