18th and 19th Century Rare Americana from David Lesser Antiquarian Books

Sometimes it was hard to oppose slavery even in the North. Item 10 is Resolutions, Offered at the Late Mass Convention, Holden at Concord, October 15, 1846. These were presented by George Barstow, an anti-slavery Democrat from New Hampshire. Barstow held that no new state should be admitted to the Union "while it holds any portion of the human race in bondage as Slaves." Barstow was denounced for his efforts by Franklin Pierce "as a traitor to the Democracy of New Hampshire" and shouted down. Barstow responded, "Some of the truest and most consistent democrats have been treated as political felons, for no other crime than that of speaking out their opinions without first asking leave of Franklin Pierce and the Southern Democracy." In 1846, Pierce was an obscure politician from New Hampshire, but six years later, after the Democrats became deadlocked in seeking a presidential nominee, he would become a compromise candidate and be elected President as a "northern man with southern principles." Evidently, he had developed his southern principles many years earlier. $250.

Item 80 doesn't have a lot to do with America, but this is a New York edition of a sensational English trial that undoubtedly made great reading wherever it was published. It is Achilli vs. Newman. A Full Report of This Most Extraordinary Trial for Seduction and Adultery Charged Against Dr. Achilli, the Apostate Catholic Priest, by the Celebrated Dr. Newman...Both of Whom are Seceders from Their Former Creeds. This is an account of a famous 1852 British case, where Catholic-turned-Protestant ex-Italian Priest Achilli sued Protestant-turned-Catholic future Cardinal Newman for libel. Giacinto Achilli converted for good reason, little of it theological. Achilli had been relieved of his duties after several accusations of sexual misconduct, including the rape of a 15-year-old girl. Achilli responded by converting to evangelical Protestantism and becoming rabidly anti-Catholic. This enabled him to develop the support anti-Catholic Protestants. His anti-Catholic statements led John Henry Newman, a priest and later cardinal (and expected to be named a saint later this year) to point out some of Achilli's personal shortcomings. Achilli sued for libel. Newman brought in witnesses to Achilli's behavior, including some of the young women, behavior which continued even after his conversion to Protestantism. The court in Protestant England ruled for Achilli, but the evidence was so overwhelming that even the Protestant English public saw the verdict as a miscarriage of justice. Achilli, his reputation ruined, moved to America, and then back to Italy. He was last seen after being charged with adultery (then a crime) in Italy in 1859. He left a note saying he was going to kill himself and disappeared. He has not been heard from since. $250.

Item 15 is a broadside printing of General Orders No. 9 from Confederate General Braxton Bragg, issued from Bethel, Tennessee, on March 16, 1862. It seems that some of Bragg's troops had been acting like Sherman's in Georgia, and Bragg was not pleased. The proclamation notes, "With a degree of mortification and humiliation he has never before felt, the major-general commanding has to denounce acts of pillage, plunder and destruction of the private property of our own citizens by a portion of the troops of this command..." Bragg states that this will bring only disgrace and disaster to their cause, that such persons would be less harm if they were serving with the enemy. Bragg adds, somewhat optimistically, that if these individuals lay down their arms, that there are other, gallant men ready to use them. The General concludes that he "will not hesitate to order the death penalty where it may be necessary. " $1,750.

David M. Lesser Fine Antiquarian Books may be reached at 203-389-8111 or dmlesser@lesserbooks.com. Their website is www.lesserbooks.com.

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