Rare and Obscure Americana from David Lesser Antiquarian Books

Item 70 is an interesting, and perhaps quite ironic piece. The title is The Address of the Minority in the Virginia Legislature...Containing a Vindication of the Constitutionality of the Alien and Sedition Laws. This was definitely a minority view, as these overreaching laws by the executive were very unpopular, and led to the early demise of the Federalist Party. The author argues for federal power, stating, "America is one nation, and therefore the state governments are restrained from interfering with these great acts of sovereignty." What makes the writing ironic is that its likely author was Henry "Light Horse Harry" Lee, a strong supporter of federal authority. It was "Light Horse Harry's" son, Robert E., who would years later lead the southern states in their rebellion against federal authority. Circa 1799. $2,500.

One of the most dramatic, and horrific events ever to occur on the floor of the U.S. Senate was the caning of Massachusetts Senator Charles Sumner. Sumner was a vigorous abolitionist, always willing to make his feelings known in the strongest terms. In a speech on the Senate floor in 1856, Sumner verbally attacked South Carolina Senator Andrew Butler, describing him as a pimp who took up with an ugly whore, that whore being slavery. These comments did not sit well with Congressman Preston Brooks, Butler's nephew, who entered the Senate chamber and beat Sumner to within an inch of his life with a cane. Sumner would not be able to return to work for three years, but when he did his views were unchanged. Meanwhile, he became a cause celebre in the North. Item 13 is National Politics. Speech of S.P. [sic] Brooks, of South Carolina, on Resigning His Seat in Congress. Brooks resigned to demonstrate he meant no disrespect to the Senate, but was promptly reelected to the House by his fellow South Carolinians. Ironically, while Sumner slowly recovered, Brooks fell ill and died the following year. $150.

Where did Sumner get his intense anti-slavery views? The apple does not fall far. His father, Charles Pinckney Sumner, was an outspoken opponent of slavery in the early days of the republic. Item 112 is the senior Sumner's Eulogy on the Illustrious George Washington... given in 1800, a few month's after Washington's death. "Americans, what a vast weight of your revolution did this mighty man sustain." $375.

The website for David M. Lesser Fine Antiquarian Books is www.lesserbooks.com, telephone 203-389-8111.

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Rare and Obscure Americana from David Lesser Antiquarian Books

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