THOMAS W. FERRY - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED 05/20/1882 - HFSID 3887

THOMAS W. FERRY
The Senator who had been two days away from becoming US President regrets he cannot attend the meeting of a Civil War veterans' organization
Autograph Letter Signed: "T.W. Ferry", 2¼p, 4¾x7¾. U.S. Senate, Washington, 1882 May 20. To Col. Horatio C. King, Recording Secretary, Society of the Army of the Potomac. In full: "I have the honor to receive the kind invitation of the Society of the Army of the Potomac to be present at its annual meeting to be held at Detroit, Michigan, on the 14th and 15th proximos. It would give me great gratification to be present on that interesting occasion. Present indications, however, point to a late session of Congress. I should hardly feel justified in leaving official duties to afford myself the pleasure of being present on that occasion. With great admiration for the men who periled their lives for and saved the country with such a prosperous present and hopeful future, I am Very truly yours". Thomas W. Ferry (1827-1896) represented Michigan in the US House (1865-1871) and Senate (1871-1883), and was President Pro Tempore of the U.S. Senate from 1875-1879. He was next in line to the Presidency from the day V.P. Wilson died in 1875 until V.P. Wheeler was inaugurated in 1877. On March 2, 1877, the Electoral Commission decided that Rutherford B. Hayes had won the disputed 1876 election; if they had not reached decision by March 4th, Ferry would have been sworn in as President. Not knowing that Hayes had privately taken the oath of office the day before, Ferry believed that he had been President for a day."VP/T.W. Ferry" incorrectly penciled at top of first page (unknown hand). Soiled. Light show through of ink. Tape remnant at top margin. Lightly creased. Folds.