America's Past through its Signed Documents from Joe Rubinfine

Another American leader noted for his willingness to forgive was Abraham Lincoln. Throughout the Civil War, he issued numerous pardons, both to Union soldiers who might have gone astray, and to Confederates willing to lay down their arms and accept Union sovereignty. Indeed, he offered a pardon to any ordinary Confederate soldier agreeing to take an oath of loyalty to the Union. On December 8, 1863, he also offered release to Confederate prisoners who took such an oath if petitioned for such a release by three members of Congress. Item 25 is such a release, signed by Lincoln, for three prisoners from Missouri. Such releases are uncommon, and it appears that all may have been granted to prisoners from the border states of Missouri and Kentucky, perhaps because these states would still have had representatives serving in the U.S. Congress. These prisoners, granted release on April 8, 1864, were from Missouri. $15,000.

American leaders may have been generous in forgiving those who went astray but wished to be reunited with the nation, but held little sympathy for those who remained in open rebellion. Item 44 is an 1862 letter from Secretary of State William Seward, in response to an invitation to celebrate George Washington's birthday. In it, Seward attacks "disloyal citizens" who participated in a "conspiracy for the overthrow of the Union of which Washington was the founder…" He leaves no doubt as to what he believes to be the answer to the question whom Washington would consider to be America's "dutiful children" if he looked down from above - "those who are engaged in the destruction of that country…or those who have committed themselves to its salvation…" $1,500.

Here is a letter that fills in a blank in Washington's diary. On April 24, 1799, John Campbell White of Baltimore wrote a letter to a friend describing a visit to Mount Vernon, "whither a small party of us had gone on a visit to General Washington." He notes that they had received "much politeness & civility," and were "strongly pressed to stay the night." White, recently arrived from Ireland, also speaks of his interest in pursuing the medical profession as well as mercantile business. In Washington's diary entry for April 20, 1799, he notes that he had been visited by a group from Baltimore, concluding, "& a Doctr. _____ dined here & returned." Evidently, Washington had forgotten his guest's last name, but now we can fill in that blank with the name "John Campbell White." Item 51. $750.

Item 10 is a signed picture postcard circa 1900 from the renown buffalo hunter, scout, soldier, and most of all showman, William F. Cody. Cody, of course, is better known as "Buffalo Bill." He parlayed a few years of unquestionably daring work on the plains to decades of "Wild West" performances, where he brought images of the frontier to easterners and Europeans. Those images might have been a bit fanciful at times, but the audiences loved him. This postcard shows a very distinguished looking Cody, a middle age version, mounted on his horse, "Duke." He has signed it - 'W.F. Cody "Buffalo Bill."' $2,500.

Joe Rubinfine may be reached at 321-455-1666 or Joerubinfine@mindspring.com.