Giddings, Joshua Reed (1795-1864). American politician and outspoken opponent of slavery. ALS, 3pp, 8 x 10.325 in., "Washington City." January 6, 1848. Addressed to Seth Merrill Gates (1800-1877), a newspaper editor and congressman currently running as a Free Soil candidate for the office of Lieutenant Governor of New York. In the letter, Giddings speculates on field of presidential candidates in the upcoming election of 1848. He writes that "[Zachary] Taylor will be the southern candidate at all counts" and, despite Taylor's initially strong start, Giddings and his colleagues "threatened destruction to every man who should go for a southern candidate opposed to the Wilmot Proviso. Other numbers united with us, and I now think the matter is at a dead stand." Further, he advises Gates to use his newspaper to combat any positive press that Taylor may receive. Giddings also writes passionately about an abolition speech given in the Senate by John Parker Hale (1806-1873): "I have been there for the last hour [listening] and most devoutly thank God that he has permitted me to live until this day and to enjoy the privilege of hearing truth on the subject of slavery & war spoken without fear and with boldness. Don't laugh when I say it was the first time in my life that I wept for joy." Though a slaveholder himself, Taylor grappled with slavery as a national, politically-charged institution. He shied away from taking a public stance on the Wilmot Proviso, a controversial bill introduced in 1846 that would have banned slavery in any territory to be acquired from Mexico in the Mexican-American War. Several news outlets published misconstrued or even fabricated accounts of Taylor's support for or opposition to the Proviso, fueling an already contentious election season. Condition: Creasing as expected, with some areas of staining/discoloration, especially at fold lines.
Giddings, Joshua Reed (1795-1864). American politician and outspoken opponent of slavery. ALS, 3pp, 8 x 10.325 in., "Washington City." January 6, 1848. Addressed to Seth Merrill Gates (1800-1877), a newspaper editor and congressman currently running as a Free Soil candidate for the office of Lieutenant Governor of New York. In the letter, Giddings speculates on field of presidential candidates in the upcoming election of 1848. He writes that "[Zachary] Taylor will be the southern candidate at all counts" and, despite Taylor's initially strong start, Giddings and his colleagues "threatened destruction to every man who should go for a southern candidate opposed to the Wilmot Proviso. Other numbers united with us, and I now think the matter is at a dead stand." Further, he advises Gates to use his newspaper to combat any positive press that Taylor may receive. Giddings also writes passionately about an abolition speech given in the Senate by John Parker Hale (1806-1873): "I have been there for the last hour [listening] and most devoutly thank God that he has permitted me to live until this day and to enjoy the privilege of hearing truth on the subject of slavery & war spoken without fear and with boldness. Don't laugh when I say it was the first time in my life that I wept for joy." Though a slaveholder himself, Taylor grappled with slavery as a national, politically-charged institution. He shied away from taking a public stance on the Wilmot Proviso, a controversial bill introduced in 1846 that would have banned slavery in any territory to be acquired from Mexico in the Mexican-American War. Several news outlets published misconstrued or even fabricated accounts of Taylor's support for or opposition to the Proviso, fueling an already contentious election season. Condition: Creasing as expected, with some areas of staining/discoloration, especially at fold lines.
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
