AUTOGRAPH LETTER, SIGNED AS UNITED STATES SENATOR, WRITTEN FROM "BOSTON 31ST OCT '71" ASKING AN UNKNOWN RECIPIENT TO PROVIDE HIM WITH SEVERAL LEGISLATIVE BILLS RELATING TO RECONSTRUCTION

Boston, 1871. Single leaf, folded to [4]pp, bifolium. Each page 5" x 8-1/8." The two leaves separating along the spine. Sumner's signature at the end has an ink smudge partially affecting the "C" in his first name. Because Sumner's handwriting was terrible, we have made a couple of leaps of faith in our translation. Very Good.

Sumner [1811-1874] would die in office as a leading Republican Senator devoted to equal rights for Blacks, and to preventing the former Rebels from reversing the results of the War. Thus Sumner sought to diminish their political influence by delaying the return of the Rebel States to full participation in the polity. (truncated)
Writing from his Boston home, he seeks information related to his Reconstruction policies. His note reads, in full: "Please send me
" [1] Mr. Harlan's Bill of Dec. '61 on Provg civil Govts for the rebel States.
"[2] Mr. Sumner's bill or substitute for Confiscation Bill. April or May '62.
"[3] Mr. S___s bill for arming negroes.
"Much oblige | Yours truly, | Charles Sumner. (Inventory #: 38007)