[Galley Proof of an Anti-Grant Speech Delivered by General John A. McClernand before the Great Citizen’s Convention at Springfield, Illinois, January 8th, 1876].

[Springfield, IL], 1876. Three leaves printed on one side, 19” x 6.5”, with manuscript emendations; additional printed circular.

Galley proof of a rousing indictment of the Grant Administration delivered at a convention in Abraham Lincoln’s hometown by John McClernand, a Civil War general and Grant’s former subordinate.

McClernand’s oration assails Grant’s use of the military as part of reconstruction, specifically citing the installation of William Pitt Kellogg as Governor of Louisiana over the protestations of Democrats who felt the rightful governor to be John McEnery (who had actually gone so far as to form his own rump legislature in New Orleans). Radical Republicans—Indiana Senator Oliver P. Morton in particular—are also castigated for chicanery and subterfuge.

Also included here is a circular issued by McClernand as Chairman of Democratic Central Committee in May of 1867 announcing an election for “Associate Justice and for Clerk of the Supreme Court” in June, and identifying Pinkney H. Walker as the Democratic candidate for Justice and William A. Turney as candidate for clerk. The circular is addressed to Illinois Assemblyman James M. Epler. Both McClernand and Epler served as Illinois delegates to the 1876 Democratic Convention.

CONDITION: Good, old creases with minimal margin tearing not affecting the text.