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George Washington As Pres. Sends Slavery-Associated Acts about North Carolina to Governor
George Washington As Pres. Sends Slavery-Associated Acts about North Carolina to Governor
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George Washington
New York, NY, February 20, 1790
George Washington As Pres. Sends Slavery-Associated Acts about North Carolina to Governor
LS

GEORGE WASHINGTON, Manuscript Letter Signed, to a Governor (possibly of North Carolina), February 20, 1790, New York, New York. Written by Washington's personal secretary Tobias Lear. 1 p., 8" x 9.75". Expected folds; some staining; residue from previous mounting in corners of verso.

With this letter to a governor, perhaps the governor of North Carolina, President George Washington transmits an act of Congress that extended the operation of several acts to the State of North Carolina, which three months earlier had finally ratified the United States Constitution after initially refusing to do so in the summer of 1788. This is one of two known, the last one selling years ago for $37,500 at a New England auction. Our example, as shown in the included invoice, was purchased in 1970 at what then was a great deal of money for such a thing, $1,200.

Complete Transcript
"United States February 20th 1790.
Sir,
I have the honor to transmit to your Excellency an Act passed in the second Session of the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States—entitled "an Act for giving effect to the several Acts therein mentioned, in respect to the State of North Carolina, and other purposes."
I have the honor to be, / With due consideration
Your Excellency's / Most Obedient Servant
Go Washington"

Historical Background
After North Carolina became the twelfth state to ratify the U.S. Constitution in November 1789, Congress passed "An Act for Giving Effect to the Several Acts Therein Mentioned to the State of North Carolina and Other Purposes" in February 1790. The petition, signed on February 3, 1790, asked the first Congress, then meeting in New York City, to "devise means for removing the Inconsistency from the Character of the American People," and to "promote mercy and justice toward this distressed Race."

The petition was introduced to the House on February 12 and to the Senate on February 15, 1790. It was immediately denounced by pro-slavery congressmen and sparked a heated debate in both the House and the Senate. The Senate took no action on the petition, and the House referred it to a select committee for further consideration. The committee reported on March 5, 1790 claiming that the Constitution restrains Congress from prohibiting the importation or emancipation of slaves until 1808 and then tabled the petition. President Washington signed the bill into law on February 8, just 12 days before the present letter was sent. The act extended the import and tonnage duties to the state of North Carolina. It also established five collection districts in the state - Wilmington, Newbern, Washington, Edenton, and Camden - and detailed where collectors, naval officers, and surveyors would be appointed within each district. Finally, the act also extended the provisions of "An Act for Registering and Clearing Vessels, Regulating the Coastal Trade, and for other Purposes" to the state of North Carolina.

In the first year that the federal government operated under the Constitution, President Washington sent letters to the governors, notifying them of new federal laws passed by Congress. In this case, Washington sent letters to twelve governors, informing them of the passage of this law. Only one other copy is known to survive - that to Governor Samuel Huntington of Connecticut.

According to the provisions of the September 1789 "Act to provide for the safe keeping of the Acts, Records, and Seal of the United States, and for other purposes," the Secretary of State was responsible for receiving signed bills, orders, and resolutions from the President and "carefully preserve the originals." This act also directed the Secretary of State to ensure that all such acts were published in at least three public newspapers and to deliver two printed copies "duly authenticated" to the governors of each state. The Secretary of State also distributed one unsigned, printed copy on smaller paper to each senator and representative in Congress.

Thomas Jefferson departed France in late September 1789 and arrived in Norfolk, Virginia, on November 23. When he arrived, he learned that President George Washington had appointed him as Secretary of State in his new government. Jefferson reluctantly accepted the nomination on February 14, 1790, but did not assume his duties in New York until March 22. Among those duties he took over from President Washington was sending copies of newly passed legislation to the governors of the various states.

On the same day that Washington sent this letter, Governor Martin sent the amendments that the North Carolina ratifying convention had proposed to the governors of the other states. At the second ratifying convention, held in Fayetteville from November 16 to 23, 1789, 271 delegates debated the ratification of the Constitution, which eleven other states had already ratified. On November 21, by a vote of 194 to 77, the delegates voted to ratify the Constitution. In September 1789, Congress had proposed a series of 12 amendments to the Constitution, and the ten that were approved by three-quarters of the states by December 1791 became the Bill of Rights. The North Carolina Convention proposed an additional eight amendments on such issues as limiting congressional taxing power and the enlistment terms for soldiers.

On June 25, 1790, after Rhode Island had ratified the Constitution, Governor Martin and the seven-member North Carolina Council of State sent a congratulatory letter to President Washington: "The Governor and Councel of the State of North Carolina embrace the earliest opportunity afforded them since the accession of this State to the Constitution, and the completion of the Union by all the States, of congratulating you on this most auspicious event: By which all causes of future dissensions among the States will be obviated: the impost, that great branch of revenue and support of Public credit, collected with more facilility, and our finances more perfectly arranged." They also expressed their relief that Washington had recovered from a near-fatal bout of influenza in May 1790.

Washington responded on August 26: "I entreat you to be persuaded that nothing could have been more agreeable to me than the proofs contained in your affectionate address of the friendly sentiments entertained by you for my person as well as for the government which I have been appointed by my Countrymen to administer. And I reciprocate with heartfelt satisfaction your congratulations on the completion of the union of all the States; an event, in my judgment, pregnant with more salutary consequences than can easily be expressed or conceived."

Alexander Martin (1740-1807) was born in New Jersey and graduated from the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University) with a bachelor's degree (1756) and a master's degree (1759). After graduation, he moved first to Virginia and then to Salisbury, North Carolina, where he worked as a merchant and later as an attorney. By 1774, he had become a judge, and when the Revolutionary War began, he was commissioned a lieutenant-colonel in 1775. He was promoted to colonel of the 2nd North Carolina Regiment in 1776, which in 1777 became part of the Continental Army under General George Washington. At the Battle of Germantown, thick fog caused Martin to mistake British troops for Continental soldiers, and he was court-martialed for cowardice. Though not convicted, Martin resigned from the army in November 1777. The following year, he was elected to the North Carolina Senate and became acting governor in 1781, when the governor was kidnapped by Tories. In 1782, he was elected governor by the General Assembly and served until 1785. He again served in the state Senate and as a North Carolina delegate to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. Because he left the convention early, he did not sign the Constitution. Though he advocated its ratification, Martin failed to win election to the North Carolina ratifying convention of 1788. He was again elected governor in 1789 and served until 1792. He then represented North Carolina in the U.S. Senate (1793-1799). He returned to the North Carolina Senate in 1804 and served as Speaker in 1805.

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.

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