Object ID	2006.0027.007
Accession#	2006.0027
Object Name	Letter
Abstract	Four handwritten pages with "Edwards" written on the back of the fourth page. The author and date written are unknown. They read as follows: Mr. Pres & members of the senate:- Our souls are filed with delight and admiration upon reaching Washington. Our heads with severe colds upon leaving the mild salubrious climate of Georgia where existance is a veritable joy. The climate and soil of Georgia also produce cotton of the finest variety in which I invested and became enormously wealthy. As the wealthy man is always exeedingly popular and often sent to Senate when he can afford to buy up votes by the wholesale;- the conclusion can be easily drawn why I am with to you today. A cotton Senator, Oglethorpe planted his tiny colony in Savannah where the existence of Georgia commenced a century and a half ago. The inhabitants locked themselves into their cabins at night because the alligators strolled through the town seeking whom they might waylay and devour. A lady now keeps a tame alligator in Savannah. Above his habitation is the notice "Idiots will please stir him up." He is severely let alone. John Wesley preached his first sermon in America at Savannah but that was before the alligators were tamed. Georgia is a very prolific state. Everything grows there (with the exception perhaps of brilliant senators) the aforesaid cotton, alligators, gold, railroads, well managed in everything save speed, fine timber, culture & society, and beautiful moss. Sam Jones and Paul H. Hayne are representative wit and poetry of Georgia. To the poet's verse belong the inexpressible charms of the dark green and sombre foliage, the hurry of the waters on the white low beach, the sighing of the winds through the pines, and the magic effects of the sun rise and moon rise on the broad and placid current of the Savannah. We have thirty three colleges but the negro needs a better general education to strengthen his character, heighten his instep and shorten his heel. He is unobtrusive in quarrels with white men as the rural caucasian has a kind of subdued thirst for the gore of poor Sambo. We advocate womans (sic) rights in Georgia. Some of you raise an energetic protest by saying "What a shocking sight it would be to behold our wives and daughters out among the rabble at the poles (sic). Electioneering, and button holing milcellaneous (sic) people with the purpose of soliciting their votes!" Now why can't the Head of the Family start out bright and early the morning of election day with the votes of his wife and daughters, go to the polls to vote for the entire family? Then his wife could remain at home engaged in culinary (sic) occupations. If you object to taking the votes of the other members of the family, let them be sent to the polls by a neighbors little girl. If some of you would portray a picture of domestic felicity, go to the polls accompanied by your faithful wife and ambitious daughters. Let them assist you O members of the Senate! Let them assist you with their counsel and wisdom to cast your vote for the right candidate according to their views.
Search Terms	Canton Ohio Pennsylvania Civil War Musicians Mayors Senate
Collection	Robert A. Cassidy Collection
Access Conditions	By appointment.
People	Cassidy, Robert A.
Subjects	Political issues Politicians Speechwriting
Catalog date	12/27/2006
Classification	Politics
Credit line	Cassidy's granddaughters Jean Takacs Burda, Grace Denny Embrey, and his great grandchildren John Mathew Burda and Pamela Sue Burda.
Home Location	G.A.R. Hall Museum
Language	English
Notes	Collection of Civil War memorabilia collected and owned by Robert Andrew Cassidy of Canton, Ohio. He was a mayor of Canton, political figure, clergyman, and distinguished Civil War veteran; a friend of presidents Ulysses S. Grant and William McKinley who was also from Canton. The collection was given to the Robert L. Hunker Historic Preservation Foundation for perpetuity to be a part of the Civil War Museum housed in the G.A.R. Hall at 1785 Main Street in Peninsula, Ohio by granddaughters Jean Takacs Burda and Grace Denny Embrey and great grandchildren John Matthew Burda and Pamela Sue Burda. This collection came to the Foundation via a series of unrelated coincidences commencing with the three books given to Robert L. Hunker, the Museum and Foundation founder by Joseph Rinella in 2004. Rinella was an associate involved with Robert L. Hunker's country estate Gully Ridge House and farm and gave the books as payment for unpaid rent. Joseph Rinella, a special duty nurse, was given the books by his patient, Glenn Cassidy, whom he nursed for six months in Canton in 2002. (Further research in process on Glenn Cassidy and he is unknown by Robert A. Cassidy's heirs) In the one book is a letter from General Grant to Robert A. Cassidy. Robert L. Hunker took the book to his friend Ronda Russell, owner of the Antique Emporium in Peninsula and an educated Civil War buff and Roundtable activist to evaluate. Question: Who is Robert A. Cassidy? Ms. Russell was getting nowhere with her research on Cassidy when Peninsula resident and friend Jean Burda came in to Russell's Antique Emporium with a part of this collection wrapped in a green silk scarf. She asked Ronda to evaluate and dispose of them. She said they belonged to her grandfather, Robert A. Cassidy who fought in the Civil War and lived in Canton. Here was the answer to the identity of Robert A. Cassidy! Mrs. Burda and Ronda asked Mr. G. Paul Huff, Civil War researcher, collector, and expert to evaluate. He placed the value of this collection at at least $6,000.00. It was re-evaluated at $9,000 due to additional research and expansion of the collection. In determining the value of this collection, Huff considered several factors: First, the simple amount of related material - diaries (four), a photo album, official documents, photos, Bibles, letters and newspaper clippings is fantastic. Some of the military records concern other members of Cassidy's family. There is a CDV of Cassidy from the Civil War and photos (one of them where he's wearing his G.A.R. ribbon) following the Civil War. Secondly, the Civil Regiment is another thing to consider. Cassidy served in a well known fighting unit of the Civil War, the 148th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. In one diary, Cassidy writes of the battles of Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. Thirdly, Cassidy owned the material. He served as the Principal Musician in a fighting unit, was active in his Canton's G.A.R. Post (once serving as its Commander) and served as the Mayor of Canton. He outlined his service in the 148th P.V.I. in its Regimental History (a regimental some consider to be one of the finest ever produced) and is mentioned by others in that regimental. So, we have a man with national recognition. You don't have to dig far to find Cassidy. He's there in the literature of the day! Fourthly is Cassidy's connection with other well-known men of his day. You have a military pass and post-war letter from the Unit's Colonel, James A. Beaver. Beaver served as the Governor of Pennsylvania and Beaver Stadium is named after him. And then there's the McKinley connection! Cassidy belonged to the same G.A.R. Post as McKinley and attended the same Methodist Church. He delivered a eulogy to McKinley and would later serve as one of the seven pallbearers to the President. Mrs. Burda and heirs are not familiar with Glenn Cassidy who gave the books to Joe Rinella. (Research in process 12/2006) This is one of the most rare and personal insights into the Civil War.
Recfrom	Jean Takacs Burda