89 / 230
ON FORGER’S LETTER AFFECTING 1880 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
129
●
GARFIELD, JAMES A. Two Autograph Letters Signed, “J.A. Garfield,” drafts of
telegrams, to Republican National Committee chairman Marshall Jewell. The first, to
Jewell and S.W. Dorsey, requesting that they denounce the Morey forgery on his behalf.
The second, requesting that he engage a detective to find the person responsible for the
forgery. Each 1 page, 4to, “Mentor Ohio” stationery, ruled paper; each tipped to a larger
sheet, each with loss to lower left corner inexpertly repaired verso, each some marginal loss
in three places at left edge, faint scattered staining. (TFC)
Mentor, 22; 23 October 1880
[1,000/1,500]
22 October:“I will not . . . mak[e] public denial of campaign lies.
“
But I authorize you to denounce the so-called Morey letter as a bald forgery, both in its language
and sentiment. . . . I never heard of . . . Lynn Moss, nor of . . . H.W. Morey. . . . [M]ake Barnum feel
the weight of public indignation for his reckless and dishonorable conduct.”
23 October:“. . .Within the last hour, the mail has brought me the lithographic copy of the forged let-
ter. It is the work of some clumsy villain, who cannot spell, nor write English, nor imitate my
hand-writing.
“
Every honest and manly Democrat in America who is familiar with my hand-writing, will denounce
the forgery at sight. Put the case in the hands of able detectives at once, and hunt the rascals down.”
In the weeks prior to the 1880 presidential election, Democratic National Committee chairman
William Barnum approved the publication of a letter allegedly by Garfield to an H.L. Morey advo-
cating unrestricted Chinese immigration. In CA and elsewhere in theWest, Chinese immigration was
widely opposed, so when some unwary voters there read the letter printed in Tammany Hall’s newspa-
per
The Truth
, they withheld votes from Garfield. Although he narrowly won the national election,
Garfield lost in CA and NV toWinfield S. Hancock, and nearly lost in Oregon.