Description:

Cleveland Grover 1837 - 1908 Grover Cleveland signed ALS while President, on Executive Mansion paper, matted with a stunning steel engraved portrait

Two pieces matted together. One is a four paged lengthy ALS written to Honorable William L. Scott, of Erie PA., signed "Grover Cleveland" and dated "April 12, 1887", matted with the letter open showing a size of 10" x 8" and tacked to the board backing at the four corners. Accompanied by a detailed steel portrait engraving of Grover Cleveland, 4.5" x 5.5", which is taped along the top edge to the board backing (neatly below the matt opening). Very faintly spotted. Both in near fine condition, and double matted together to a size of 20" x 11.75", with a cut out to the matt to show the verso of the letter. Matt lightly toned.

An attractive set including a lengthy ALS penned and signed by Grover Cleveland during his Presidency and written on Executive Mansion letterhead. The letter was written to "Hon Wm L. Scott / Erie Pa" requesting his reconsideration to not step down from his position. At the time Scott was the chairman of the United States House Committee on Expenditures in The Department of the Navy. President Cleveland penned in his letter "I am much surprised and disturbed to learn today quite directly that you do not intend to be in your seat with the next congress; you can be so useful to the country". However, due to Scott's poor health he declined his renomination shortly after the writing of the letter.

One of the most contentious issues of the time, dividing the Republican and the Democratic parties in 1887 was that of high protective tariffs. While it had not been a central point in his campaign, Cleveland's opinion on the tariff was that of most Democrats: that the tariff ought to be reduced. Republicans generally favored a high tariff to protect American industries. American tariffs had been high since the Civil War, and by the 1880s the tariff brought in so much revenue that the government was running a surplus. (Interesting to note that this is the one of the issues that separates the two parties today, but this time around we are not in a government surplus). Cleveland had previously reached out to Hon. William Scott in a prior, separate letter and looked for his support on his position "I have talked with a few of our people on the general subject of this consolidation scheme and they all seem to think it should be done. In fact looking the thing all over I think I cannot help it. Have you anything to say about the two PA Collectors who it seems might be dispensed with? It happens that both of them come pretty near you there I mention my intention, though I don't expect to do so in any other case. If these things are done they ought to be done pretty soon so that the new arrangements can begin with the new fiscal year."

The issues of the tariff and internal revenue continued to receive Cleveland's attention. In his Third Annual Message to Congress on December 6, 1887, shortly after the writing of this letter, Cleveland attacked the tariff: "The public Treasury, which should only exist as a conduit conveying the people's tribute to its legitimate objects of expenditure, becomes a hoarding place for money needlessly withdrawn from trade and the people's use, thus crippling our national energies, suspending our country's development, preventing investment in productive enterprise, threatening financial disturbance, and inviting schemes of public plunder." However, he never did succeed in obtaining a significant tariff reduction. And in his Executive Order of May 7, 1895, he designated new Internal Revenue Rules to deal with the abuses he was concerned with here, thus achieving that goal.

A fantastic set, neatly matted together. Shows well.

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