Description:

Abraham Lincoln
New York, NY, September 29, 1860
Sen. George G. Fogg Partial Letter on Stephen Douglas: "little Dug....is a 'used up man'"
ALS
A partial letter written by Senator George G. Fogg about the decline of Stephen Douglas's campaign. 1p, measuring 7.75" x 9.75", New York, dated September 29, 1860. Writing from 39 Astor House, Fogg addresses the letter to fellow congressman Mason W. Tappan. On scarce Abraham Lincoln/Hannibal Hamlin 1860 campaign letterhead, it discusses Douglas's recent disappointing speaking tours. The letter has flattened mail folds, with light toning and staining. Missing the remainder of the letter, including the signature. Very good overall.

In full:

"I have just returned from a hurried trip to Indiana, Illinois, &c. The general aspect of the political skies is all bright. I travelled one whole day with 'little Dug,' and heard him deliver his speech six or seven times. He is a 'used up man.' Neither he nor his audiences were excited. The enthusiasm with which he started his campaign has subsided. I stood at his side every time he spoke. There was no action of the brain, and no flashing of the eye when he spoke. He said nothing new or fresh, or that was calculate to inspire his friends with…"

After being nominated for president by the Democratic National Convention, Stephen Douglas broke with convention and began campaigning. He gave speeches across the Northeastern United States as well as in Virginia and North Carolina before campaigning in the crucial swing states of Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Indiana. Although he had already proven himself to be a dominant figure in politics, his candidacy was regarded by many in the country as a lost cause. Very few newspapers endorsed Douglas, and the split between Northern Democrat supporters of Douglas and Southern Democrat supporters of Breckinridge was essentially the nail in the coffin; Douglas recognized that victory in the election was impossible. Frustrated and facing certain defeat, he lashed out at President Buchanan, who had endorsed the rival Democrat candidate Breckinridge. Ultimately, Missouri was the only state Douglas carried, and he finished in last place in the electoral vote. It is also very possible that Fogg's description of Douglas can be attributed to his worsening health. He contracted a serious illness, "gout in the stomach", described as "almost always fatal". Douglas would be dead in less than 2 years after having contracted typhoid fever and suffering from these stomach complications.

George Gilman Fogg (1813-1881) had been named secretary of the Republican National Committee and played a key role in the 1860 summer and fall campaign. He frequently wrote to Lincoln from Republican headquarters at Astor House in New York City or from the road as he worked on the Republican campaign. After Lincoln's election, Fogg was appointed as Minister Resident to Switzerland, holding that office from 1861 to 1865. He also served as a member of the U.S. Senate for New Hampshire from 1866 to 1867.

We are proud to include items consigned by the Manuscript Society in this auction. These items come from the estate of well-known manuscript dealers Forest G. & Forest H. Sweet and Julia Sweet Newman. Forest G. Sweet was an early leader of the Manuscript Society as well as a rare book scholar. The proceeds from your purchase of these items will benefit the work of the Manuscript Society. You can learn more about them, and become a member of the Manuscript Society, at www.manuscript.org.

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.

WE PROVIDE IN-HOUSE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE!

  • Dimensions: 7.75" x 9.75"
  • Medium: ALS

Accepted Forms of Payment:

ACH, American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

Unless otherwise indicated, we do our own in-house world-wide shipping!

Applicable shipping and handling charges will be added to the invoice. We offer several shipping options, and remain one of the few auction houses that proudly provides professional in-house shipping as an option to our clients. All items will ship with a signature required option, and full insurance. Most items are sent via Federal Express, with P. O. Box addresses being sent through USPS. We insure through Berkley Asset Protection with rates of $.70 per $100 of value, among the lowest insurance rates in the industry. Our shipping department cameras document every package, both outgoing and incoming, for maximum security. In addition, we compare our shipping and handling rates against those of other auction houses, to ensure that our charges are among the lowest in the trade.

Upon winning your item(s), you will receive an invoice with our in-house shipping and handling fees included. ***We will ship to the address as it appears on your invoice. If any changes to the shipping address need to be made, you must inform us immediately.***

International shipments: In order to comply with our insurance provider, all international shipments will be sent via Fed Ex and customs paperwork will show a value of $1.00. International buyers should contact our office directly with any questions regarding this policy.

Third-Party Shipping Option: If a third-party shipper is preferred, the buyer is responsible for contacting them directly to make shipping arrangements. For your convenience, we have provided some recommended shippers. For your protection, we will require a signed release from you, confirming your authorization for us to release your lots to your specified third-party. At that point, our responsibility and insurance coverage for your item(s) ceases. Items picked up by third-party shippers are required to pay Connecticut sales tax. Items requiring third-party shipping due to being oversized, fragile or bulky will be denoted in the item description.

Please see our full terms and conditions for names of suggested third-party shippers.

After payment has been made in full, University Archives will ship your purchase within 10 business days following receipt of full payment for item.

Please remember that the buyer is responsible for all shipping costs from University Archives' offices in Wilton, CT to the buyer's door. Please see full Terms and Conditions of Sale.

March 12, 2025 10:00 AM EDT
Wilton, CT, US

University Archives

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 25% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000