LOT #67041 |
Starting Bid: $1
[Hartford Convention]. Period Fair Copy of the Appointment of the Massachusetts Commissioners in the Hand of Edward D. Bangs....
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Description
[Hartford Convention]. Period Fair Copy of the Appointment of the Massachusetts Commissioners in the Hand of Edward D. Bangs. Two pages, 8 x 13 inches, [Boston]; [circa 1829]. A contemporary copy of a document written in the hand of Edward D. Bangs, Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts from 1824 to 1836. The original document was signed on January 21, 1815, just three weeks after the Massachusetts delegates had returned from the Hartford Convention. With outer docketed cover.The document, issued by Massachusetts Governor Caleb Strong, appointed three state commissioners to the federal government: Harrison Gray Otis, Thomas Handasyd Perkins, and William Sullivan. The commissioners were ordered: "...to make earnest and respectful application, to the Government of the United States, requesting their consent to some arrangement, whereby the State of Massachusetts, separately, or in concert with neighbouring States, may be enabled to assume the defence of their territories against the enemy; and that to this end, a reasonable portion of the taxes collected within said States may be paid into the respective Treasuries thereof and appropriated to the payment of the balance due to the said States and to the future defence of the same."
At the end, Bangs signs, "A true Copy of Record; att. Edward D. Bangs, Secy of the Commonwealth."
The Hartford Convention was a secret gathering of New England Federalists held from December 15, 1814 to January 5, 1815. Delegates from several New England states met to air longstanding regional grievances, including opposition to President James Madison's foreign policy, the War of 1812, and the disproportionate influence of Southern slave states following the Three-Fifths Compromise. The convention produced a report recommending constitutional amendments, such as limiting the presidency to a single term and restricting successive presidents from coming from the same state.
However, the timing of their proceedings, coupled with rumors of possible secession, led many Americans to view the convention as an attempt to undermine the federal war effort. The resulting backlash dealt a severe blow to the Federalist Party's reputation nationwide. Despite the controversy, Caleb Strong remained popular in Massachusetts, serving as governor from 1800 to 1807 and again from 1812 to 1816.
Condition: Light, uneven toning, darker at the left edge. Flattened folds; separated at the center fold, reattached with clear tape on the verso. Minor edgewear, including a few small chips, not affecting text.
Auction Info
2025 November 8 Historical Manuscripts including Texana Showcase Auction #30152 (go to Auction Home page)
Proxy Bidding Ends
November
8th
Saturday
12:50 pm CT
Auction Dates
November
8th
Saturday
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27 Days
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Manuscripts Session
(Lots 67001-67182) - 1:00 PM Central Time, Saturday, November 8, 2025.
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