Description:

Adams John Quincy 1767 - 1848 John Quincy Adams signed presentation copy of his soaring 1831 4th of July speech which trumpeted the Declaration of Independence, with an important inscription.

Published by Richardson, Lord and Holbrook: Boston: 1831. Outer wrapper titled ''Mr. Adams' Oration'', with the subtitle ''Addressed to the Citizens of the Town of Quincy on the Fourth of July, 1831''. Signed and inscribed on the original printed wrapper to Judge Joseph Story and Vice Presidential candidate John Sergeant, in full: ''Judge Joseph Story / from his friend / J.Q. Adams''. Forty page speech, on rough cut paper. Bound in restored soft wraps comprising of new matching paper, with the original remaining paper cover wrap inlaid to the front. Small area infilled and touched up to the inscription affecting the "Q" in Adams, the "frie" in friend and a small touched up area to the name "Joseph Story" . Measures 6"x 9". Firmly bound with hand stitched binding . Original pages show light to moderate toning. The book is well conserved and as such is quite readable and not fragile. Overall in very good condition.

An inspiring oration by Adam, which reignites the founding purpose of our Declaration of Independence. In part:

"The Declaration of Independence was a manifesto issued to the world, by the delegates of thirteen distinct, but UNITED colonies of Great Britain, in the name and behalf of their people. It was a united declaration. Their union preceded their independence; nor was their independence, nor has it ever since, been separable from their union. Their language is, "We the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress assembled, do, in the name and by the authority of the good PEOPLE of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare that these United Colonies, are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States." It was the act of one people. The Colonies are not named; their number is not designated; nor in the original Declaration, does it appear from which of the Colonies any one of the fifty-six Delegates by whom it was signed, had been deputed. They announced their constituents to the world as one people, and unitedly declared the Colonies to which they respectively belonged, united, free and independent states. The Declaration of Independence, therefore, was a proclamation to the world, not merely that the United Colonies had ceased to be dependencies of Great Britain, but that their people had bound themselves, before God, to a primitive social compact of union, freedom and independence."

Judge Story was a lawyer and jurist who sat on the Supreme Court from 1811-1845. Historians agree that Justice Joseph Story reshaped American lawŠ—”as much or more than Marshall or anyone elseŠ—”in a conservative direction that protected property rights. He was also instrumental in his involvement with the Amistad case, a high profile and unusual freedom suit that involved international issues and parties, as well as United States law.

An unusual and rare example of his oration by John Quincy Adams delivered to the Citizens of the town of Quincy, Massachusetts, with an important inscription to Judge Story. The inscription on this volume is particularly unusual in that Adams normally signed books on a presentation slip pasted into the book, rather than on the actual volume. Handsomely conserved which not only protects the document but also allows it to be readable and not fragile.

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