CHIEF JUSTICE MORRISON R. WAITE - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED 03/17/1884 - HFSID 41527

MORRISON R. WAITE
Morrison R. Waite sends an autograph letter about information he received from Mr. Cooke.
Autograph Letter Signed: "M.R. Waite", 1p, 5x8. 1415 I. Street, Washington, D.C., 1884 March 17. To William M. Evarts. Begins: "My dear Evarts". In full: "I have just received the enclosed from Mr. Cooke. It tells its own story - If possible I hope the matter may be closed at an early date. Yrs. sincerely". Enclosure not present. Waite and Evarts had been two of the three commissioners (the other was Caleb Cushing) who represented the U.S. in arbitration over the Alabama claims in 1871. MORRISON REMICK WAITE (1816-1888), an Ohio legislator (state House of Representatives, 1850) and founder of the Republican Party, gained prominence as a U.S. representative on the Geneva Arbitration Panel, resolving claims against Britain arising from the Civil War.Appointed Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court by President Ulysses S. Grant in 1873, he served until his death. Waite, who generally supported broad regulatory powers of state governments and strict interpretation of the Reconstruction Era civil rights legislation, wrote the decision upholding criminalization of polygamy in Utah. WILLIAM MAXWELL EVARTS (1818-1901) served as U.S. Attorney General (1868-1869) and Secretary of State (1877-1881) before becoming a Republican U.S. Senator from New York (1885-1891). As he was between political positions at the time of this letter, the matter mentioned is likely something that he could look into in his capacity as an attorney. Lightly creased with folds, not at signature. Shaded at right margin, touching the "ite" of Waite, and on integral leaf. Slightly soiled. Docketed (unknown hand) on verso of integral leaf (no show through). Overall, fine condition.