Garfield, James

AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED ("JAMES GARFIELD"), SIGNED AS PRESIDENT, TO CHARLES DEVENS, ACCEPTING THE LATTER'S RESIGNATION AS ATTORNEY GENERAL

Garfield, James

1 page (8 1/2 x 5 3/8 in.; 217 x 137 mm) on Executive Mansion | Washington letterhead, Washington, 7 March 1881. Accompanied by an engraved portrait of Garfield.

Slightly faded, tiny mounting remnant on verso.

Provenance:
On his fourth day in office, President Garfield thanks Charles Devens for his service. "Permit me, in accepting your resignation as Attorney General, to express my sincere personal respect and my appreciation of the fidelity and ability with which you have served the government during the past four years." A prominent lawyer and brigadier general of volunteers during the Civil War, Devens was Attorney General for the full tenure of President Rutherford B. Hayes. Garfield replaced him with Wayne MacVeagh. NO EARLIER AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED BY GARFIELD DURING HIS BRIEF PRESIDENCY IS CITED IN THE AUCTION RECORDS.