Letter from Schuyler Colfax to Joseph Medill, 1866-03-07

File — Box: 2A, Folder: B181

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

From the Collection:

This collection consists chiefly of letters to Joseph Medill. It also includes a few of his own early writings, letters from Joseph Medill, and documents related to Joseph and Katharine Medill. These papers, along with those in collections III-9, IV-4, and VI-5, contain valuable source material for researchers interested in the genealogy of the Medill, Patterson and McCormick families, Chicago Tribune and Tribune Company history, Chicago history, the origins and early days of the Republican Party, 19th century political figures (both national and local) who corresponded with Joseph Medill, and other related subjects.

The collection includes a copy of James O'Donnell Bennett's analysis of the collection.

Dates

1866-03-07

Creator

From the Collection: Medill, Joseph, 1823-1899 (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Box 336 of this collection is stored off-site and requires two business days advance notice for retrieval. Please contact the McCormick Library at specialcollections@northwestern.edu or 847-491-3635 for more information or to schedule an appointment to view the collection. There are no restrictions on the use of these materials for research. All patrons must comply with federal copyright regulations.

Extent

From the Collection: 5 Boxes

Language of Materials

From the Collection: English

Additional Description

General

Letterhead: Thirty-Ninth Congress, U.S. House of Representatives

Includes envelope

Text begins: "I had through about the phonographic secretary over and over again. ... I handed your letter about our true policy (capital all of it) to Farney ... I had read in the Tribune your e[ditori]al lacking faith in Congress before you sent it to me. It is unjust to Congress but Congress will indicate the faith that true men all over have in it. I know the members very thoroughly and can assure you that there is not power enough on this continent to induce them to yield to the President's policy ... As to suffrage in these Rebel States, I could not say; for so many doubt the power, the policy, the prejudice and whether 'Do unto others' etc., the Golden Rule would justify it. ... Our people at home have all lost confidence in Johnson."

Colfax was Speaker of the House of Representatives