18th President of the United States ULYSSES S. GRANT handwritten and signed letter to friends in Washington attempting to resolve a feud between his political faction and the Garfield administration which ultimately led to the assassination of President James Garfield. No date but circa April 1881, Grant responds to a letter signed by "the Vice President (Chester Arthur), Senator Conkling" and one other. Grant mentions his heated correspondence with Garfield and seeks counsel. Garfield was shot 3 months later as a direct consequence of the feud.
 
Grant also mentions forging an important trade relationship with Mexico. "During this time [1881] Grant communicated with President Chester Arthur and received his blessing to also work out a new commercial treaty with Mexico, who named Romero as one of its commissioners. The proposed treaty worked to remove tariffs on US and Mexican goods and establish free trade"
 
Grant Writes
"I write to you in answer to the letter of the 30th of March, signed by the Vice President, Senator Conkling & yourself, and only just rec'd. I resent exceedingly I did not get it at Galveston in time possibly to have had some effect. Please read my letter to you, and the one to Garfield to the signers of the letter of the 30th and use your combined judgment as to whether the latter should be declined or not. I am likely to remain here another month. The work I am engaged upon is one which I believe is to result in great benefits to my own country, and of course to this. No personal consideration would tempt me to engage in what I am now doing but I believe sincerely that by building these people up we will establish a market for our products which will stave off, for years at least, a panic which is otherwise inevitable from the rapidity with which we are going on. My kindest regards to all my friends in W[ashington] Yours U. S. Grant".
 
BACKGOUND:
New York Senator Roscoe Conkling headed the Stalwart faction of the Republican Party. He had feuded with Garfield in 1881 over the appointment of his political opponent James Blaine (head of the Half-Breeds faction) to the position of Secretary of State. Blaine instructed Garfield to remove a friend of Conkling's from a lucrative position as the Collector of the Port of New York. Ulysses Grant became involved in March 1881 imploring Garfield to reconsider the hostile actions toward the Stalwarts. Grant wrote to President Garfield in-part "To select the most obnoxious man to them (the Stalwarts) in the state is more than a slight...I do claim that I ought not to be humiliated by seeing my personal friends punished for no other offence than their friendship and support".
 
 
During this political feud James Garfield's assassin Charles Giteau had applied for a position in the Paris consulate and showed up at James Blaines office to personally petition for the appointment. Blaine bluntly rejected Guiteau for the position which caused him to write to President Garfield who also turned him away. Aware of the administrations disdain for Stalwarts, Guiteau believed that his request had been denied simply because he was a Stalwart. Guiteau felt that it was necessary to kill President Garfield in order to restore peace between the two factions in the Republican Party. Upon his arrest after shooting Garfield Guiteau exclaimed “I am a Stalwart of Stalwarts...Arthur is President now!" Notably Chester Arthur was a Stalwart.
 
CERTIFIED AUTHENTIC + FULLY ENCAPSULATED BY PSA/DNA Authentication Services EXPERT EXAMINATION. GUARANTEED GENUINE - simply one of the finest ULYSSES GRANT letters available on the market.
 
Letter is in excellent condition for its 140+ years of age. One slightly uneven edge, scattered ink on the crossbar of the "T" in Grant. Ink is still very bold and easy to read!
 
Own a remarkable, original piece of American history! The perfect gift for the Presidential collector, military devotee, autograph enthusiast, or History buff. An impactful addition to any collection
 
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