The Collected Library, Including Americana and Early Photography

(1) “Letter from the Hon. William C. Rives to a friend On the Important Questions of the Day”, Richmond: Whig Book and Job Office, 1860. 16pp, no wraps, tanned w/ two loose pages. [In this letter, dated Jan. 27, 1860, Rives discusses the events at Harper's Ferry, the slavery issue, and the prospects of secession and war. In 1861 he represented Virginia at the peace convention held in Washington and remained loyal to the Union during the war.]; (2) “Correspondence. Albemarle, County, VA. Jan. 12, 1861, Wm. C. Rives and V. W. Southall, Esq's” 3 pgs. (single fold out sheet, 4th pg. blank) asking the two to pledge themselves to represent the [Virginia secession] convention for any course or policy it should decide upon... [includes Rives reply]. Fine condition (scarce); (3) “Abolition, and the Relation of Races: Speech of Hon. James A. Bayard, of Delaware” 15 pgs., L. Towers & Company, printers, 1862. Disbound, Very good cond.; (4) “Speech of Mr. Palfrey, of Massachusetts, on the political aspects of the slave question.” Delivered in the House of representatives, January 26th, 1848. Washington J. & G. S. Gideon 1848” 16 pps. Good.; (5) “Woodward on Foreigners” 8 pgs. Surplus Lib. Of Congress wrap. Pencil notations indicate it was pub. by H. B. Ashmead w/ ref. of Bartlett # 5234 & Sabin # 19460. [Woodward, a Democratic Justice of Pennsylvania's Supreme Court, ran for Governor in 1863. He blamed the War on the Republicans, argued that no justification existed for excluding slavery from the Territories and hinted that the South's secession was justified on grounds of self-defense. This anti-Woodward pamphlet points out his hypocrisy of arguing that foreigners should be able to vote or holding office in Pennsylvania during an 1837 election, and warns of doublespeak now that he needs their vote in 1863.” Wrap poor condition, but content good; (6) “The Constitutional Rights of the States. Speech of J. L. M. Curry of Alabama, in the House of Representatives, March 14, 1860.” Washington, D.C.; McGill Printing Co., 1860. 8 pgs. Disbound (pages loose but complete); (7) “Kansas Bill. Speech of Hon. J. P. Benjamin, of La., delivered in Senate of the United States on Thursday, March 11, 1858. Slavery Protected by the Common Law of the New World. Guarantied [sic] by Constitution. Vindication of the Supreme Court of the U.S.” Washington DC: G. S. Gideon, Printer, 1858. 1st edition. 29 pgs. Discolored covers (with staining on front) w/ frayed edges but complete. Insider good; (8) “A Refutation of the Slander and Falsehoods contained in a Pamphlet, Entitled Sally Miller with the entire evidence of the case… By John F. Miller.... “ New Orleans, December, 1845. 70 pages, Surplus stamp 2nd pg. o/w very good condition. Scarce.  [In 1844, Sally Miller, a slave in New Orleans, filed a freedom suit against her previous owners. She claimed to be a German immigrant, illegally enslaved for over 20 years. In 1845 the Supreme Court of Louisiana decided she was entitled to her freedom].