Stephen A. Douglas
Springfield, IL, February 19, 1841
Stephen A. Douglas Signs Governor's Election Order as Illinois Secretary of State
MDS

STEPHEN A. DOUGLAS, Manuscript Document Signed, Thomas Carlin, Revocation of Election of Sheriff, February 19, 1841, Springfield, Illinois. 1 p., 7.75" x 12.5". Bold signature; small holes from cancellation with minimal effect on text.

Governor Thomas Carlin issued this executive order to the county commissioners of Cass County, revoking a writ ordering an election for sheriff of Cass County the following day. Stephen A. Douglass, then spelling his surname "Douglass," signed the order as Secretary of State, an office he held for just under three months from November 1840 to February 1841, when the state legislature appointed him to the Illinois Supreme Court.

As a Whig legislator, Abraham Lincoln often opposed the agenda of Democratic Governor Thomas Carlin. In 1840, Lincoln and other Whigs attempted to prevent a quorum in the Illinois House of Representatives by leaping out of a window in the Second Presbyterian Church in Springfield, where the House was temporarily meeting. The House was considering a reapportionment bill favored by the Democratic leadership under Carlin. Despite Lincoln's efforts, the Democratic majority achieved a quorum and passed the legislation.

Excerpt:
"Whereas a law has passed the General Assembly of the State of Illinois entitled ‘An act to provide for the collection of Taxes for the year one thousand eight hundred and thirty nine in Cass County'. Approved Feb. 18th 1841, in which the sheriff of Cass County has further time allowed him to settle with said county and state for the revenue due for the year therein set forth.
"No[w] know Ye, That I Thomas Carlin Governor of the aforesaid do by these presents, rescind and revoke a writ of Election ordering an Election in the said county of Cass on the twentieth day of February A.D. 1841, You are therefore required to notify the Judges and Clerks of Election that said writ of election is revoked and that no Election will be held to fill said office....
"By the Governor. Tho. Carlin
"S A Douglass Secretary of State."

Stephen A. Douglas (1813-1861) was born in Vermont, and his father died when he was a few months old. After attending Canandaigua Academy in western New York, he began to teach school and study law. In 1833, Douglas migrated to Illinois and settled in Jacksonville, where he was admitted to the bar in 1834. As a Democrat, Douglas served in the Illinois House of Representatives (1836-1837), as Register of the U.S. General Land Office in Springfield (1837-1838), as Illinois Secretary of State (1840-1841), and as associate justice of the Illinois Supreme Court (1841-1843). Elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, he served from 1843 to 1847, when he became one of Illinois' U.S. Senators, a position he held until his death. He became a leader in the U.S. Senate, and his sponsorship of the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 and popular sovereignty in the U.S. territories drew the opposition of fellow Illinoisan Abraham Lincoln. Their series of debates in 1858, when Lincoln tried to unseat Senator Douglas, drew national attention to both men. In 1860, southern opposition to Douglas as the Democratic nominee for president divided the Democrats, allowing Abraham Lincoln to win a plurality of the votes and a majority in the electoral college. Douglas strongly supported the Union and urged compromise to avert secession before dying of typhoid fever in June 1861.

Thomas Carlin (1786-1852) was born in Kentucky and moved with his family to the Missouri Territory in 1803. He served in both the War of 1812 and the Black Hawk War. He settled in Illinois and married Rebecca Huitt, with whom he had thirteen children. In 1821, when Greene County was organized, Carlin was elected as the first sheriff. From 1824 to 1832, he served as a state senator, and in 1834, he was appointed receiver for the land office at Quincy, a position he held until 1838. Carlin was elected governor of Illinois in 1838 and served until 1842. He was the first convention-nominated governor in Illinois. As governor, Carlin faced economic problems. Despite the financial trouble the state faced as a result of the Panic of 1837, Carlin supported railroads and other internal improvements. His agents borrowed money for the state on unfavorable terms, and Illinois lost more than $150,000 as a result. In 1842, financial difficulties forced the suspension of construction on the Illinois and Michigan Canal. Carlin blamed the banks for the economic problems. In 1844, Carlin was a candidate for Congress, but lost to Stephen A. Douglas. In 1849, he served an unexpired term as a state representative.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

WE PROVIDE IN-HOUSE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE.

  • Dimensions: 7.75" x 12.5"
  • Medium: MDS

Accepted Forms of Payment:

ACH, American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Paypal, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

Unless otherwise indicated, we do our own in-house world-wide shipping!

Applicable shipping and handling charges will be added to the invoice. We offer several shipping options, and remain one of the few auction houses that proudly provides professional in-house shipping as an option to our clients. All items will ship with a signature required option, and full insurance. Most items are sent via Federal Express, with P. O. Box addresses being sent through USPS. We insure through Berkley Asset Protection with rates of $.70 per $100 of value, among the lowest insurance rates in the industry. Our shipping department cameras document every package, both outgoing and incoming, for maximum security. In addition, we compare our shipping and handling rates against those of other auction houses, to ensure that our charges are among the lowest in the trade.

Upon winning your item(s), you will receive an invoice with our in-house shipping and handling fees included. ***We will ship to the address as it appears on your invoice. If any changes to the shipping address need to be made, you must inform us immediately.***

International shipments: In order to comply with our insurance provider, all international shipments will be sent via Fed Ex and customs paperwork will show a value of $1.00. International buyers should contact our office directly with any questions regarding this policy.

Third-Party Shipping Option: If a third-party shipper is preferred, the buyer is responsible for contacting them directly to make shipping arrangements. For your convenience, we have provided some recommended shippers. For your protection, we will require a signed release from you, confirming your authorization for us to release your lots to your specified third-party. At that point, our responsibility and insurance coverage for your item(s) ceases. Items picked up by third-party shippers are required to pay Connecticut sales tax. Items requiring third-party shipping due to being oversized, fragile or bulky will be denoted in the item description.

Please see our full terms and conditions for names of suggested third-party shippers.

After payment has been made in full, University Archives will ship your purchase within 10 business days following receipt of full payment for item.

Please remember that the buyer is responsible for all shipping costs from University Archives' offices in Wilton, CT to the buyer's door. Please see full Terms and Conditions of Sale.

by University Archives
July 28, 2026 10:00 AM EDT
88 Danbury Road
Suite 2A
Wilton, CT, US 06897

University Archives

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 25% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000