THOMAS C. PLATT - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 10/06/1891 - HFSID 13794

BETWEEN HIS TERMS AS A U.S. SENATOR FROM NEW YORK, PLATT SENDS A LETTER OF INTRODUCTION TO THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY
 
THOMAS C. PLATT. TLS: "TC Platt" as President of The United States Express Company, 1p, 5¼x8¼. New York City, 1891 October 6. On letterhead of The United States Express Company to "Hon. B.F. Tracy, Secretary of the Navy, Washington, D.C." Begins: "Dear General". In full: "Permit me to introduce to you my friend, Jas. S. Lehmaier, Esq. of this City, and to commend him to your confidence and kindly consideration. He is all right in every respect. Yours truly". Lightly creased with folds, lower horizontal fold at signature. Slightly creased, lightly soiled. Two file holes at blank left margin, light show through of circular rust stain at upper left. Overall, fine condition. Accompanied by original envelope, 6¼x3½. Imprinted with the logo of the United States Express Co. at upper left. Addressed by Platt to: "Hon. B. F. Tracy, Secy. of the Navy., Washington, D.C." At lower left margin, Platt has written: "Introducing/J.S. Lehmaier Esq". Not stamped, indicating that the letter was hand-delivered, possibly presented in person by Lehmaier. Lightly creased and soiled. File hole at upper left blank margin, Light rust stain at lower left margin touches the "In" of Introducing. Overall, fine condition. Platt, a former President of the Tioga National Bank served as Secretary, Director and President of The United States Express Company.BENJAMIN FRANKLIN TRACY (1830-1915) was Secretary of the Navy from 1889-1893. The former Union General also held several positions in New York state, including service in the New York State Assembly (1861), and he was U.S. District Attorney for the Eastern District of New York (1866-1866) and a Judge on the New York Court of Appeals (1881-1883). JAMES S. LEHMAIER, a friend of Platt's, was active in New York City politics. Republican THOMAS COLLIER PLATT (1833-1910), a former businessman, represented New York in the U.S. House of Representatives (1873-1877) and the U.S. Senate from March 4, 1881-May 16, 1881, when he resigned because of a disagreement with President Garfield over federal appointments in New York. He was the unsuccessful candidate for election to the U.S. Senate to succeed himself but later returned to the Senate, serving from 1897-1909. Two items.