Previous image preload Next image preload
Back to catalog
Lot 53
image_0 image_1 image_2 image_3 image_4
Andrew Jackson Attacks the Bank of the United States and Texas Representatives Justify Slavery in a Pair of Antebellum Pamphlets
Andrew Jackson Attacks the Bank of the United States and Texas Representatives Justify Slavery in a Pair of Antebellum Pamphlets
image_0 image_1 image_2 image_3 image_4
Description:

Andrew Jackson
Washington, DC; Austin, TX, ca. 1834, 1857
Andrew Jackson Attacks the Bank of the United States and Texas Representatives Justify Slavery in a Pair of Antebellum Pamphlets
Pamphlet/Booklet
ANDREW JACKSON, Annual Message of the President of the United States to the Senate and House of Representatives, at the Opening of the Second Session of the Twenty-Third Congress. Washington, DC: Blair & Rives, 1834. 15 pp., 6.25" x 9.875". Bound with staples and tape on left; irregular edges; scattered staining and foxing.
With: [SLAVERY.] Informe I Tratado Sobre La Esclavitud I La Discusion Acerca de Ella (Report and Treatise on Slavery and the Slavery Agitation). In Spanish. Austin, TX: John Marshall and Company, 1857. 98 pp., 5.5" x 8.5". Bound with string and tape on left; top of cover clipped; soiling and scattered foxing.

The first of this pair of pamphlets provides Andrew Jackson's sixth annual message to Congress, which addresses French failure to pay for damages to American shipping during the Napoleonic Wars. He also attacks the Second Bank of the United States, whose recharter bill, he had vetoed in 1832.

The second pamphlet, in Spanish, is a report by the Committee on Slaves and Slavery of the Texas House of Representatives. In December 1857, that body ordered the publication of 7,500 copies of the report in English, 1,500 copies in German, and 1,000 copies in Spanish. This copy in Spanish is therefore the rarest of those initially produced. The report stemmed from a resolution to reopen the African slave trade by state representative John Henry Brown (1820-1895) of Galveston. The committee, chaired by Brown, returned this report. Brown later chaired the committee that prepared Texas's articles of secession.

Excerpts
[Jackson's Annual Message:]
"It becomes my unpleasant duty to inform you that this pacific and highly gratifying picture of our foreign relations does not include those with France at this time. It is not possible that any Government and people could be more sincerely desirous of conciliating a just and friendly intercourse with another nation than are those of the United States with their ancient ally and friend." (p4/c2)

"there has, for many years, been scarcely a single administration of the French Government by whom the justice and legality of the claims of our citizens to indemnity were not to a very considerable extent admitted, and yet near a quarter of a century has been wasted in ineffectual negotiations to secure it." (p5/c1)

"It is my conviction that the United States ought to insist on a prompt execution of the treaty, and in case it be refused or longer delayed take redress into their own hands. After the delay on the part of France of a quarter of a century in acknowledging these claims by treaty, it is not to be tolerated that another quarter of a century is to be wasted in negotiating about the payment. The laws of nations provide a remedy for such occasions. It is a well-settled principle of the international code that where one nation owes another a liquidated debt which it refuses or neglects to pay, the aggrieved party may seize on the property belonging to the other, its citizens or subjects, sufficient to pay the debt, without giving just cause of war." (p7/c2)

"Circumstances make it my duty to call the attention of Congress to the Bank of the United States. Created for the convenience of the Government, that institution has become the scourge of the people." (p8/c2-p9/c1)

"The grounds assumed in this annunciation amounted to an acknowledgment that the curtailment, in the extent to which it had been carried, was not necessary to the safety of the bank, and had been persisted in merely to induce Congress to grant the prayer of the bank in its memorial relative to the removal of the deposits and to give it a new charter." (p9/c1)

"if the principle be established, that any one who chooses to set up a claim against the United States may without authority of law seize on the public property or money wherever he can find it to pay such claim, there will remain no assurance that our revenue will reach the Treasury or that it will be applied after the appropriation to the purposes designated in the law." (p9/c2)

"It seems due to the safety of the public funds remaining in that Bank, and to the honor of the American people that measures be taken to separate the Government entirely from an institution so mischievous to the public prosperity and so regardless of the Constitution and laws." (p9/c2)

"Events have satisfied my mind, and I think the minds of the American People, that the mischiefs and dangers which flow from a national bank far over-balance all its advantages." (p10/c1)

[Report and Treatise on Slavery and the Slavery Agitation, excerpts from the English edition:]
Proposed resolution: "Be it Resolved by the Legislature of the State of Texas, That our Senators in Congress be instructed and our representatives requested to urge upon the Congress of the United States the repeal of all laws and the abrogation of all treaties prohibiting the importation of African slaves into the slaveholding States and territories of this Union; and the passage of such humane laws as shall effectually guard against every species of cruelty in such future purchase and importation of African slaves; and requiring that they shall be imported in such numbers, on board of such vessels and under such safe-guards as shall be necessary to their health, comfort, and general protection in life and person." (p7-8)

"The committee on Slaves and Slavery, to whom was referred the foregoing preamble and joint resolution, ‘in relation to the importation of African Slaves,' have had the same under consideration, and have endeavored to bestow upon it the care and reflection which its importance demands.
"While the conclusion of the committee is not in favor of the measure proposed by the joint resolution, for reasons which will hereafter appear, they, nevertheless, believe that the occasion is a fit one to review, as concisely as practicable, the past and present aspect of the slavery agitation, by which the peace and harmony of our country have been seriously jeopardized; and to recommend to the House of Representatives the adoption of a measure calculated, in the opinion of the committee, to disseminate sound doctrine, and inculcate in the public mind of the State, a correct view of the whole question of Southern negro slavery; around which, for the past twenty-five years, there has been sedulously thrown every conceiveable form of mystification and error." (p9-10)

"The slavery agitation has borne other fruits. It has enlightened the mind of the South itself, by causing, after a long period of silence, however, an investigation into the character of the institution, in all its relations, moral, political and governmental—its necessity, justification, and effect upon the cause of human progress—resulting in conclusions decidedly, overwhelmingly favorable to it." (p21)

"In reference to the subject referred to the committee—the propriety of incipient steps towards permitting the introduction of slaves from Africa, to meet the demands of our own and other States—the committee are aware that much might be said pro and con. So far as humanity, and the essential and practical workings of our system of slavery are concerned, there can be no doubt, that the purchase and transfer of negroes, held in slavery by their own race in Africa, (as the majority of them are,) to this country, would be conducive to the highest attainable good to the negro. It is simply transfering him from the worst known form of slavery, to the best and most humane ever known.... It is a grave question of public policy, which should be fairly and dispassionately passed upon by the people, before action by the State Legislatures—for on this and all other features of the question of slavery, the South should, as far as human frailty will permit, be of one heart and one mind.... In view, therefore, of all the facts stated, and others worthy of consideration, the committee, after mature consideration, recommend that no action be taken on the subject." (p24-25)

Historical Background
In his review of foreign affairs, President Andrew Jackson relates the history of delays in France's failure to pay the 25 million francs for damages to American shipping during the Napoleonic wars, agreed to in 1831. The French Chamber of Deputies repeatedly refused to make appropriations for payments, and Jackson had had enough by the time he sent this message to Congress. In response, the French recalled their ambassador. In April 1835, the Chamber of Deputies agreed to pay only if "the Government of France shall receive satisfactory explanations of the Message of the President of the United States." In response to that statement, the American ambassador to France withdrew. Jackson first responded that "it would be disgraceful to explain or apologize to a foreign government for any thing said in a message [to Congress]. It is the summit of arrogance in France, and insulting to us as an independent nation to ask it." After Whigs criticized Jackson's stand, he refused to apologize but did, in his next annual message, explain that "the conception that it was my intention to menace or insult the Government of France is...unfounded." Shortly, thereafter, the French authorized payment, and the United States established itself as due the same respect as European powers.

Convinced that the Second Bank of the United States was a corrupt institution that negatively affected American democracy for the benefit of a wealthy elite, Andrew Jackson vetoed the Bank's recharter bill in July 1832. He expanded the use of the presidential veto from acts considered unconstitutional to any acts of Congress deemed inappropriate on social, political, or economic grounds. Jackson's veto made the issue of the Bank's recharter central to the presidential election campaign of 1832. The Bank's efforts to influence the election confirmed Jackson's views of its power and corruptness. Jackson was reelected by a generous margin in the popular vote and an overwhelming electoral vote majority. In response, Nicholas Biddle, the Bank's president, instigated a financial crisis to force Congress to override Jackson. Although supporters of the Bank were unsuccessful in preventing its demise, Jackson's opponents coalesced into the Whig Party, which contended with the Democratic Party in national politics for the next two decades.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

WE PROVIDE IN-HOUSE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE.

  • Dimensions: 6.25" x 9.875"; 5.5" x 8.5"
  • Medium: Pamphlet/Booklet

Accepted Forms of Payment:

ACH, American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

Unless otherwise indicated, we do our own in-house world-wide shipping!

Applicable shipping and handling charges will be added to the invoice. We offer several shipping options, and remain one of the few auction houses that proudly provides professional in-house shipping as an option to our clients. All items will ship with a signature required option, and full insurance. Most items are sent via Federal Express, with P. O. Box addresses being sent through USPS. We insure through Berkley Asset Protection with rates of $.70 per $100 of value, among the lowest insurance rates in the industry. Our shipping department cameras document every package, both outgoing and incoming, for maximum security. In addition, we compare our shipping and handling rates against those of other auction houses, to ensure that our charges are among the lowest in the trade.

Upon winning your item(s), you will receive an invoice with our in-house shipping and handling fees included. ***We will ship to the address as it appears on your invoice. If any changes to the shipping address need to be made, you must inform us immediately.***

International shipments: In order to comply with our insurance provider, all international shipments will be sent via Fed Ex and customs paperwork will show a value of $1.00. International buyers should contact our office directly with any questions regarding this policy.

Third-Party Shipping Option: If a third-party shipper is preferred, the buyer is responsible for contacting them directly to make shipping arrangements. For your convenience, we have provided some recommended shippers. For your protection, we will require a signed release from you, confirming your authorization for us to release your lots to your specified third-party. At that point, our responsibility and insurance coverage for your item(s) ceases. Items picked up by third-party shippers are required to pay Connecticut sales tax. Items requiring third-party shipping due to being oversized, fragile or bulky will be denoted in the item description.

Please see our full terms and conditions for names of suggested third-party shippers.

After payment has been made in full, University Archives will ship your purchase within 10 business days following receipt of full payment for item.

Please remember that the buyer is responsible for all shipping costs from University Archives' offices in Wilton, CT to the buyer's door. Please see full Terms and Conditions of Sale.

March 12, 2025 10:00 AM EDT
Wilton, CT, US

University Archives

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 25% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000