[Confederate, Lincoln Friend, Slavery Defender] Bledsoe Secures Legal Costs For Sale

ALBERT T. BLEDSOE (1809-1877) was born in Kentucky and moved to Springfield, IL, where he practiced law for ten years in the same courts as Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas. On rare occasion, Lincoln and Bledsoe shared the same clients in court actions, but more often, they represented clients on opposing sides. From December 1841 to March 1847, they appeared together in court at least twenty-two times with at least two cases in the state Supreme Court. In 1844, Bledsoe joined Lincoln and several others on speechmaking in various communities.

In 1848, Bledsoe gave up the practice of law to teach mathematics at the University of Mississippi (1848-54) and at the University of Virginia (1854-61). With the advent of the Civil War, he was appointed colonel in the Confederate Army, but was soon selected as Assistant Secretary of War. Jefferson Davis sent Bledsoe on a mission to England to do historical research on the North-South conflict and probably to influence British opinion in favor of the South. After the war, Bledsoe was a founder of the Southern Review.

Harriet Coxe Bledsoe, his wife, was also a friend of Abraham and Mary Lincoln. In January 1865, living in the South, Harriet ran the blockade, hoping in the North she could get clothing material for her children. At her request, Lincoln granted her an interview at the White House and gave her a pass to return through the lines. Bledsoe justified the secessionist movement by the South as a constitutional right. He justified slavery as a moral right, sanctioned by the Bible.

7 ¾ x 12 ½, ADS, Macon County Circuit Court, IL, October Term 1842, signed twice, being an action by Jones, Scott & Company vs. William Cantrill, defendant in action to recover $2,000. “I do hereby myself security for costs in this cause and acknowledge myself bound to pay or cause to be paid all costs which may accrue in this action either to the opposite party or to any of the officers of this court in pursuance of the laws of this state. Dated this 20th day Sept. 1842...”

Provenance: Christies

Light ink transfer from another document. Toning, fold breaks reinforced with archival ape.

Everything we sell is guaranteed authentic forever to the original buyer. We also offer a 30-day return policy. If you discover a problem or are dissatisfied with an item, please contact us immediately. Our goal is to please every customer. We are pleased to be members of The Manuscript Society, Universal Autograph Collectors Club, The Ephemera Society, the Southern New England Antiquarian Booksellers and the Preferred Autograph Dealers and sale Houses. [CW 131]