Description:

Russell Sage
Troy, NY, September 11, 1854
Russell Sage on "malicious falsehoods" During his Campaign, PSA/DNA
ALS
A scarce autograph letter signed sending news of his campaign, Troy, NY, September 11, 1854, penned to Republican party boss T. D. Platt, Esq. Expected mailing folds, with some separation at folds and minor loss at same. Wear includes ink smudging; foxing and toning; soiling and discoloration; and a bit of chipping at edges. 1p. 8" x 9.75" PSA/DNA encapsulated to 9.5" x 13". Intriguing content, and worthy of further research!

Marked "Confidential", Sage writes, in part: "…Tracy & Climes opposed my re-nomination. It is without cause and very unjust as well as unexpected. They have started four candidates, three of whom, have, as I am informed, declined, leaving Volney Richmond as the remaining candidate. Now I feel I should be sustained by the Whigs of my District, and so far as I have heard any expression, beyond the small circle alluded to above it is very decided in approval. Now, my Dear Sir, I meant you to see that the right kind of Delegates are appointed in your Town. Some of the Towns appoint their County Delegates at the time they appoint their District Delegates which takes place this week. I think [Hiram] Denio is right and suppose George Gardner and Henry T. Douglass to be. However, I leave this whole matter with you and want you to attend to it. Come as one yourself without fail.

I have not been to Lansingburgh as yet, will see to your interest there when I go.

I fear C. Moffet is wrong from influences here."

American financier, railroad tycoon and Whig politician from Troy, New York, Russell Sage (1816-1906) was one of the richest Americans in the nineteenth century. He built an enormous fortune by financing other businesses, most notably railroads, and was closely connected to Jay Gould and his railroad investments. The year of our letter, Sage, 38 years old at the time, inherited his father wealth. He had already amassed more than $1 million, which would be over $31 million today.

Sage was as ambitious in politics as he was in business, and was elected to the House of Representatives as a Whig from 1853-1857 -- but never was voted to a higher position despite his efforts. After retiring from politics in 1857, he focused on his financial career and in investigating stock calls and puts options that could be traded over the counter in the United States.

Sage's correspondent, Thomas Collier Platt (1833-1910) was a two-term Representative and three-term Senator from New York and best known as the Republican "boss" -- and even the "political godfather" of Theodore Roosevelt. Two years after Sage's letter, Platt would back the beleaguered Civil War politician John C. Frémont. His connection with Sage is not immediately clear, save that both of them were involved with New York politics.

The persons mentioned by Sage are Volney Richmond (1802-1864), a manufacturer and member of the New York State Senate; George Ranson Gardner (1837-1897) was a lawyer and politician from New York who served as district attorney in Wisconsin after the Civil War, during which he lost an arm in the Battle of Fort Wagner. Hiram Denio (1799-1871) was chief judge at the New York Court of Appeals.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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  • Provenance: PSA/DNA "Authentic"
    #85338126
  • Dimensions: 9.5" x 13"
  • Medium: ALS

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