1840 Autograph Letter Signed by Burgess Sidney Gaither, North Carolina Whig politician and later Confederate congressman, arranging a speaking campaign for James Turner Morehead, future U.S. congressman.


Letter written by Burgess Sidney Gaither (1807–1892), North Carolina Whig Politician and later Confederate Congressman. Gaither was the “only North Carolinian there in favor of arming the slaves and one of two who did not try to force President Davis to begin peace negotiations.” (Warner &Yearns;, p93)

Here, he writes to Yancey County militia leader Col. Tilman Blalock (1804–1876) of Grassy Creek. Blalock later served in the Yancey Rangers during the Mexican-American War and as a captain in the Confederate States Army.

Gaither enlists Blalock’s help in support of “the Whig cause” by publicizing and securing a “full turnout” for a public speaking campaign of Whig North Carolina State Senator (and later U.S. Congressman) James Turner Morehead (1799–1875), then running for re-election to the Senate. He writes:

“I have just learned that Mr. Morehead will be at Morganton on the 20th & Burnsville on the 24th of June & will address the people on each of those days & places. ... I hope you will take some pains in sending notice to all parts of the county & let us have a full turnout. Morehead will go on immediately to Haywood & Macon. I hope you are attending to the Whig cause and that it is still prospering.”

“A Staunch Whig party leader, Colonel Gaither, as he was generally called, was a delegate to the Whig National Convention of 1839 in Harrisburg ... Gaither was elected to the first Confederate States Congress from the Ninth District and qualified on 18 Feb. 1862… Easily reelected two years later to the Second Confederate Congress, he qualified on 2 May 1864 and served to the end of the Confederacy in 1865. ... As a Conservative party advocate and later as a Democrat, he strongly opposed Radical Reconstruction.” (NCpedia)


Description: 1840 Autograph Letter Signed by Burgess Sidney Gaither, North Carolina Whig politician and later Confederate congressman, arranging a speaking campaign for James Turner Morehead, future U.S. congressman.

Morganton [North Carolina], June 6, 1840. [1]p. Sm. Folio. Wax seal. Folds; light soiling on verso; Very Good.

[3730356]

Price: $85.00

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