GARFIELD LS AS PRESIDENT ALLUDING TO THE 'STAR-ROUTE' SCANDAL: 'REGRETTING THE EMBARRASSMENTS WH...

GARFIELD LS AS PRESIDENT ALLUDING TO THE 'STAR-ROUTE' SCANDAL: 'REGRETTING THE EMBARRASSMENTS WHICH THE EVENT HAS CAUSED US BOTH.' GARFIELD, JAMES A. 1831-1881. Letter Signed ('J.A. Garfield') to W.A.M. Grier responding to Grier's refusal of a government appointment, 2 pp, 8vo (235 x 134 mm), Washington, April 29, 1881, on Executive Mansion letterhead, some creasing, toning and thumbsoiling to pages, both sheets tipped at upper margin to mat. Provenance: Walter Benjamin; sold Christie's, Fine Printed Books and Manuscripts Including Americana, December 15, 2005, lot 238; sold Sotheby's, Presidential and Other Manuscripts from the Dr. Robert Small Trust, April 3, 2008, lot 93. In part: 'My Dear Sir: / Yours of the 25th instant is received. / I regret that you have concluded to decline the position of Third Assistant Postmaster General. I was greatly desirous of having you in the public service, and shall be very glad if I find it possible in any other way to do so. / Thanking you for your kind letter and regretting the embarrassments which the event has caused us both....' Allegations of corruption in the allocation of contracts for the U.S. Postal Service 'star routes' serving rural areas appeared as early as 1872, but by the 1880 election they were a prominent campaign concern. The 'star routes' (so named because they were indicated by a 'star' by the post office), serviced remote communities too far from train depots or ports, and so mail delivery was contracted out to private contractors to delivery. It was discovered that the government was spending an exorbitant amount to maintain these routes, thanks to an intricate web of bribery and kickbacks. James Garfield campaigned on a promise to clean up the corruption, opening an investigation as soon as he was inaugurated, but the results nonetheless proved to be a major embarrassment to the new administration. Once made aware of the corruption, Garfield quickly attempted to clean house at the post office. In an early move, he offered a position (not a particularly grand one, only the third assistant postmaster general) to W.A.M. Grier, who had distinguished himself as a delegate at the 1880 Republican National Convention by being the only person to cast his vote for Garfield on the second ballot, and then on every ballot afterwards. Perhaps because of the increased public attention brought to bear on political appointees and the Post Office, Grier declined the offer, and Garfield wrote this embarrassed letter in response. Signed Garfield letters as President are quite rare, and ones with important political content even more so. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing