Description:

ELECTION OF 1884: ARCHIVE OF SENATOR SAMUEL FESSENDEN (160+)
An archive of over 160 pieces from the estate of Connecticut Senator SAMUEL FESSENDEN, with much correspondence pertaining to the JAMES G. BLAINE presidential campaign of 1884, and collected by Fessenden while serving as secretary of the Republican National Committee. Fessenden (1847-1908) was the son of Congressman Samuel C. Fessenden, and a lawyer, politician and Civil War veteran. He was born and raised in Maine, then moved to Connecticut after the Civil War, where he served as a member of the state's House of Representatives and Senate, and as State Attorney for Fairfield County. In 1884, Fessenden was elected as secretary to the Republican National Committee, a position he held for many years. Our archive centers around the hotly-contested Presidential campaign of 1884 between Blaine and Grover Cleveland and which resulted in Cleveland's narrow victory. It contains fine signed material by political figures such as JAMES G. BLAINE, JOHN WANAKER, MARCUS HANNA, J. H. MANLEY, THOMAS C. PLATT, JOHN A. LOGAN, O. O. HOWARD, WHITELAW REID, and many more. Of particular note is an A.L.S. of JAMES G. BLAINE to Fessenden, 2pp. 8vo., August 27, 1884. Just three months before the election, Blaine writes regarding an important Republican supporter, future Connecticut governor Phineas C. Lounsbury: ‘…I am not surprised that irritation and resentment were exhibited in Fairfield…Mr. Lounsbury…future triumph is only postponed and will come with all the prestige…you can assure him of my deep personal interest in his political fortunes…'. Blaine's son, WALKER BLAINE shared his father's confidence in a Republican victory, writing to Fessenden on Oct. 11, 1884: ‘…I prefer to ‘cut down' the party and go it alone…I have early confidence…'. Others share this assuredness, such as former Union colonel and Assemblyman from Kansas, CYRUS LELAND (1810-1890), who writes to Fessenden just days before the election: ‘Kansas is certain, for at least 50,000 majority for Blaine…'. Future secretary of war STEPHEN B. ELKINS (1841-1911) chimes in with this undated note: ‘Cornell's figures this morning give you the State [WV] by about 4000 to 6000'. Likewise, Maine politician JOSEPH H. MANLEY (1842-1905), Blaine's close associate, writes to Fessenden on Oct. 5, 1884: ‘…I have tried to study carefully the situation in Ohio. I see evidence of the desperation of the Democrats…we will carry the state handsomely…'. Much more. Also included are over 50 telegrams sent to Blaine in 1884, some with excellent content such as listing the numbers of votes by state, and statements such as: ‘NJ probably Democratic'; ‘Mahone says Virginia 9,000 for you'; ‘N.C. is largely Democratic'; and an intriguing one reporting on a riot in Cincinnati, Ohio: ‘Polls are just closing with no further bloodshed…'. Together with: a printed address by Fessenden given at the dedication of the Soldier's Memorial, Sept. 1890; an anti-Blaine broadside lambasting Blaine's financial gains during his tenure in Congress as ‘abuse of public office for private gain…'; an anti-Cleveland brochure criticizing Cleveland's Five Cent Bill, Mechanics' Lien Law Bill and Child Factory Bill; a large broadside press release titled ‘Campaign Slips'; a copy of the August 14, 1884 Evening Telegraph (Buffalo) regarding the slander of Blaine in the Indianapolis Sentinel and publishing Blaine's intent to sue for libel, Fessenden's leather cover for his RNC card, and more. A tremendous amount of high-content material well worthy of further research. Condition ranges from good to very good. Ex: Forrest Sweet.

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November 14, 2025 10:00 AM EST
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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