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Rare LS as president, signed “J. A. Garfield,” one page, 5.5 x 9, Executive Mansion letterhead, April 29, 1881. Letter to W. A. M. Grier in Hazleton, Pennsylvania, in part: "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." In fine condition, with an area of light toning to the first page.
The recipient of this letter was W. A. M. Grier, a Pennsylvania delegate who notably cast the sole vote for James A. Garfield on the second ballot of the 1880 Republican Convention in Chicago. This loyalty continued over dozens of rounds of voting until Garfield finally emerged as the nominee. Grier had been enlisted early to support Garfield’s candidacy, and his dedicated support ultimately helped secure Garfield’s nomination.
The letter alludes to the 'Star Route Scandal,' a significant controversy that erupted in the postal service shortly after Garfield's election. In the early months of Garfield’s administration, allegations surfaced about corruption in the postal service’s issuance of valuable 'star route' contracts. These contracts were intended to serve remote areas where standard postal routes were impractical, but they had become a lucrative opportunity for contractors due to fraudulent practices.
Suspicions grew that some officials were profiting by awarding contracts under dubious terms. In response, Garfield, who took office on March 4, 1881, promptly ordered a thorough investigation into the alleged wrongdoing. The controversy prompted him to make new appointments to restore public trust. However, Grier, an active partner in the Hazleton banking firm Pardee, Markle, and Grier, evidently declined his own prospective appointment amid fallout from the scandal.
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