LOT #35124 |
Sold on Mar 6, 2009 for: Not Sold
William Henry Harrison Autograph Letter Signed "W. H. Harrison" as congressman. Two pages (front and back) plus a quarte...
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Description
William Henry Harrison Autograph Letter Signed "W. H. Harrison" as congressman. Two pages (front and back) plus a quarter page postscript on integral leaf, 7.75" x 13", January 5, 1819, Columbus, Ohio, addressed to Jacob Burnet of Cincinnati, Ohio, on verso of integral leaf. Harrison writes, in part: "Your letter upon the subject of changing the law in relation to the sales of personal property under Execution was received some days since. I received also a few days ago a letter from Mr Baum on the same subject I agree with you both on the propriety of extending the protection of the laws of that Species of property. The subject had been previously brought before the Senate & a Bill has been reported. It is said however to be extremely defective in the Detail by those who understand the subject better than I so for the purpose of answering it has been recommitted... I will enclose you this Eve'g one of three long speeches which I delivered on the occasion & I now enclosed the first one delivered which I proposed to the Report of the Committee. You will see from this that I wished to go further than the Committee as to the proposed Amendment to the Constitution. I was however induced to withdraw the Amendment as to the part of the subject upon (preventing Congress from establishing any National Bank) upon the suggestion that going that length might prevent any amendment from being effected. The Debate turned entirely upon the Report of the Select Committee on Preambles to the resolution (which the Resolutions) were unanimously agreed to. I am thus particular lest an opinion should get abroad that I was against the proposed Amendment to the Constitution... The printer of the Monitor has been requested by many of the Gentlemen who voted with me to make an impression of my speech on a Separate Steed for the convenient distribution of it. It is not by any means such as I could wish it or such as I could have made it but for the effects of a severe Indisposition of which I have never gotten the better." After signing this letter, Harrison adds two lines on this page and ten lines on the next page, the verso of the integral address leaf: "I will enclose all the printer hopes...Turn over." Continuing, "I was mistaken in supposing that the law for securing personal property had been recommitted. It was only recommitted this Ev'g. I am one of the committee but I am at a loss about the Detail...send me...on the mode of disposing of the property if it should not sell & prosecuting the defendant from disposing of it." Small holes in a blank fold area; chipped and toned lower portion repaired with archival tape over parts of three lines of the text. Small tear between the "H." and "H" of signature repaired on verso with archival tape. Hole from seal tear in blank portion. Reinforced at conjoined edges. Some roughness and show-through but writing is dark and bold. Very good condition.Jacob Burnet (1770-1853) was a director and president of the Cincinnati branch of the Second Bank of the United States. Many people had bought land on credit from the federal government under the Land Act of 1800. Burnet called on the federal government to help people purchase land more easily. He had written Harrison about federal protection of certain property. The Land Act of 1820 addressed those concerns. Burnet served as Judge of the Ohio Supreme Court from 1821 until 1828 when he resigned, having been elected to succeed William H. Harrison as U.S. Senator. In 1839, Jacob Burnet nominated Harrison for president at the Whig National Convention. Burnet's younger brother was David G. Burnet, first president (ad interim) of the Republic of Texas.
Auction Info
2009 March Grand Format Rare Manuscripts Auction #6019 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
March, 2009
6th-7th
Friday-Saturday
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 1
Lot Tracking Activity: N/A
Page Views: 634
Buyer's Premium per Lot:
19.5% of the successful bid per lot.
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