JAMES G. BLAINE - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED 04/20/1867 - HFSID 283573

JAMES BLAINE
Signed autograph letter to fellow Maine Congressman Sidney Perham (1867), seeking Perham's support for a candidate for a state office.
Autograph Letter signed: "J. G. Blaine" as US Representative. 1 page, 7¾x10. To Sidney Perham, in full: "I understand that Mr. Wm. D. Haley of Bath is a candidate for Register of Bankruptcy in your district. I shall be pleased if you can favor him with the weight of your recommendation. I have known Mr. Haley for many years - and can commend him to you with great confidence as a young man of culture, ability & probity. Sincerely your friend". JAMES G. BLAINE (1830-1893), who began his political career in the Maine state House of Representatives (1859-1862; Speaker 1861-1862), later served as a Republican U.S. Congressman (1863-1876; Speaker of the House, 1868-1875) and U.S. Senator (1876-1881) from the state. Secretary of State under Presidents Garfield and Arthur (1881) and Benjamin Harrison (1889-1892), Blaine was nominated for President at five consecutive Republican National Conventions: 1876, 1880, 1884, 1888 and 1892. He won the nomination in 1884, but lost the November election to New York Governor Grover Cleveland after a campaign characterized by mud-slinging on both sides. SIDNEY PERHAM (1819-1917), the addressee, was a Member of Congress from Maine (1863-1869, serving there with Blaine when this letter was written) and Governor of that State (1871-1874). Horizontal and vertical folds. Lightly creased and toned. Otherwise, fine condition.