Sold – President Abraham Lincoln Appoints the Governor of the Newly Created Nebraska Territory, Cementing His Control There

In the 1850s, Senator Stephen A. Douglas has his eyes set on organizing the vast Nebraska Territory to build a transcontinental railroad.  Both the Southern and Northern states competed for the terminus, which Douglas wanted to run through the North.  To placate the South and get Southern Senators to vote his way, he stepped right into the quagmire of the North-South dispute over slavery, and guided through Congress the Kansas-Nebraska Act. This split the territory into two – Kansas and Nebraska, repealed the Missouri Compromise, and opened the new territories to the possibility of slavery using Douglas' doctrine of Popular Sovereignty (which held that local residents would decide on whether they wanted slavery or not). 

Passage of this act roused Lincoln, who after years outside the political arena, re-entered political life in 1854 as a direct result.  He was aghast at the repeal of the Missouri Compromise, against popular sovereignty with regard to slavery, and against slavery.  This cemented his rivalry with Douglas, and would lead to Lincoln's being drafted for public office.  But in 1854 the Kansas-Nebraska Act was the law of the land, and the government set about organizing both territories.  In Kansas, this led to a series of violent confrontations between pro-slavery and anti-slavery forces, in fact a war of sorts. Many consider it the proving ground for the Civil War. In Nebraska, the first territorial governor took his seat in 1854, in what ended up being a line of interim governors and short-serving officials until 1861.

After Lincoln was inaugurated, he thought it important to put into the position of Governor of Nebraska a political ally.  Alvin Saunders was a staunch Republican who had attended the convention where Lincoln was nominated, and campaigned for Lincoln's election, helping to deliver his native Iowa.  Previously a state senator who had helped draft the Iowa Constitution, Saunders was a logical man for Lincoln to trust for this important position.

Document signed, Washington, March 27, 1861, by Lincoln as President and William Seward as Secretary of State, appointing Saunders the Governor of Nebraska Territory.  "I have nominated, and, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, do appoint [Alvin Saunders] to be Governor of the Territory of Nebraska."  Since state governor is an elected position, the only appointments to such a high office by a President relate to U.S. territories, making this an extremely uncommon document.  

In his first message to the Legislature, which convened December 2, 1861, Gov. Saunders said: "A mere glance at the map of the country will convince every intelligent mind that the great Platte Valley, which passes through the heart and runs nearly the entire length of Nebraska, is to furnish the route for the great central railroad, which is to connect the Atlantic and Pacific States and Territories." The breaking-out of the rebellion in the Southern States had necessitated the levying of a tax on the people. The amount apportioned to Nebraska was $19,312, and the Governor urged the prompt raising of the sum.

Saunders remained the Governor of Nebraska for the entire Civil War and a couple of years after.  As Governor, he encouraged recruitment for the Union Army and supported Lincoln's policies.  He was influential in guiding Nebraska to statehood, which occurred in 1867. Saunders was the  last Territorial Governor of Nebraska.  

Saunders was chosen in 1862 to serve as Commissioner for the Union Pacific Railroad, which began construction of the transcontinental railroad in 1863 (much to Lincoln's liking). The project united the east and west in a way hitherto considered impossible. He later served as a representative from Nebraska and then its U.S. Senator. He was also the founder and President of the State Bank of Nebraska.

Saunders daughter married the son of future President Benjamin Harrison. This document was acquired from their direct descendants and has never before been offered for sale.