Schurz, Carl & Henderson, John B.

Description

Autograph ID: 5132
Condition: Very good
Description: “CARL SCHURZ (1829-1906) German-born statesman, reformer, diplomat, Civil War General, Missouri US Senator 1869-75, Secretary of the Interior 1877-81 (Hayes), journalist, editor & orator. At 19, Schurz led an 1848 German student movement to encourage democracy and went into exile on its defeat. In 1852, he emigrated to the US and moved to Wisconsin, where he joined, and campaigned for, the Republican Party. In the 1858 Illinois Senate campaign, he spoke on behalf of Lincoln, mostly in German, which raised Lincoln’s popularity among German-Americans. In 1861, Lincoln appointed him Minister to Spain, and succeeded in dissuading Spain from supporting the South in the Civil War. In 1862, he was named Brig. General by Lincoln. Promoted Major General Vols., he led a division in Howard’s XI Corps at Gettysburg. Then was chief of staff of Henry Slocum’s Army of Georgia, resigning at the War’s end. In 1867, he moved to St. Louis, becoming editor and joint proprietor of “Der Westliche Post” (Western Post), and was elected to the Senate from Missouri in 1868, 1st German-American senator. He broke with the Grant administration, starting the Liberal Republican movement in Missouri, which in 1870 elected B. Gratz Brown as governor. In 1872, he presided over the Liberal Republican convention which nominated Horace Greeley for President. In 1876, he supported Hayes for President. Hayes named him Secretary of the Interior. On leaving office, he worked as an editor for various newspapers in New York City. In 1884, he was a leader in the Independent (or Mugwump) movement supporting the election of Grover Cleveland. In 1892, he succeeded George Wm. Curtis as president of the National Civil Service Reform League to 1901, and succeeded Curtis as editorial writer for Harper’s Weekly 1892-98. He is memorialized by Carl Schurz Park in New York City (site of Gracie Mansion, residence of the Mayor). Schurz, Nevada is named after him, as are several places in Wisconsin, Missouri and Germany. Mount Schurz in east Yellowstone was named in 1885 by the US Geological Survey to honor his commitment to protect Yellowstone National Park. In 1983, the US Postal Service issued a stamp to honor him.

JOHN B. HENDERSON (1826-1913) Missouri US Senator, a co-author of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution. Missouri legislator 1848-50 & 1856-58, named State Militia Brig. General in 1861, led federal forces in NE Missouri. On Jan.17, 1862 he was appointed to the US Senate as a Unionist to fill the vacancy caused by the expulsion of Trusten Polk. Later that year, he was elected to a full Senate term. A Senator representing a slave state, Henderson co-authored & co-sponsored the 13th Amendment to the Constitution permanently prohibiting slavery in the United States. His original proposal, made Jan. 11, 1864, was submitted to the Senate Judiciary Committee, and on Feb. 10, 1864, it presented to the Senate a proposal combining the drafts of Rep. James M. Ashley (R-Ohio), James F. Wilson (R-Iowa), Charles Sumner (R-Mass.), and Henderson. On Jan. 31, 1865 the 13th Amendment was approved by Congress, signed by President Lincoln on Feb. 1, and ratified by the end of December. During President Johnson’s impeachment trial, he broke party ranks with 6 other Republican senators and voted for acquittal. The 7 Republicans were disturbed by how the proceedings had been manipulated to give a one-sided presentation of the evidence. After the trial, Rep. Ben Butler conducted hearings on widespread reports that Republican senators had been bribed to vote for Johnson’s acquittal. In Butler’s hearings, and in subsequent inquiries, there was evidence that some acquittal votes were acquired by promises of patronage jobs and cash. He did not seek reelection to the Senate in 1868 and left the Senate March 4, 1869. Henderson was an unsuccessful candidate for Governor and later US Senator. In 1875 he was special US Attorney to prosecute the Whiskey Ring at St. Louis. In 1877 he was appointed a commissioner to treat with hostile tribes of Indians.

Two fragments (Schurz: 2 1/2 x 7 1/4; Henderson: 3 1/4 x 7 1/4) of an autograph album page each one signed by one of these notable Missouri US Senators, undated but ca. 1869.”
Type: Signatures