2005-03
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/28/2005
Autograph Letter Signed "C.C. Gilbert", 8 pages, quarto, February 7, 1861, Fort Cobb, Indian Territory to his nephew "How", location unknown. Gilbert, a career officer and future Union Brigadier, writes of a vast half-slave, half-free American empire that will be born of the current sectional crisis. The letter reads in small part: "...South Carolina...was literally dragged into the present Union neck & heels, more like a subjugated province, than an independent sister state. She has since been trying to recover...Up to within a few months, a modified secret slave trade has been growing up for some years between Cuba & the Gulf States...The election of Mr. lincoln settles its fate. South Carolina will now bend all her energies to the task of recovering her independence...The canal across the Isthmus of Suez & that across the Isthmus of Panama when completed will bring back commerce to its former channels. Havana then will resume its position as the commercial center of the Caribbean Sea & the Gulf of Mexico, of which New orleans & Charleston are secondary centers...Havana is the natural center of our southern states...Now then for a few glances forward. Our southern states will group themselves about the Gulf of Mexico & uniting with the West Indies & Central America will fix upon Havana as their capital...Is the Union to be broken up for good? No! Havana & New York...are natural friends They can have a common Capital at Washington, but the two systems, to be healthy, must be allowed to live in their normal state Havana must have her slave trade in all its health & vigor & New York her emigration & westward development free and uninterrupted...". Fine condition.
Click on a thumbnail above to display a larger image below
Hold down the mouse button and slide side to side to see more thumbnails(if available).
Click above for larger image.