Description:

Abraham Lincoln
Washington, DC, November 28, 1863
Lincoln Enforcing Monroe Doctrine to Prevent "United States to engage or mingle in the war which is raging" in Caribbean Signed By Chase
Printed Doc

[TREASURY DEPARTMENT.] Salmon P. Chase, Circular Letter, Printed Letter Signed in Type, November 28, 1863. 1 p., 8" x 10". Includes handwritten note in margin, "Recd Dec 7th 1863. C. Almy, Coll." Pinholes in left margin for binding; very good.

After gaining independence from Haiti in 1844, San Domingo's first republic came to an end in 1861, when President Pedro Santana restored the Dominican Republic to Spain. Rebels began a national war of restoration in August 1863, though Spanish troops occupied most towns. With the end of the Civil War and the reassertion of the Monroe Doctrine by the United States in 1865, Spanish forces evacuated Santo Domingo for Cuba, and an unstable Second Republic emerged in the Dominican Republic.

Excerpts

Chase letter, November 28, 1863 " In accordance with the instructions of the president, thus communicated to me, you will use all vigilance to seek out and arrest any and every movement in your district against the neutrality laws of the United States. "

Seward letter, November 24, 1863 " It has been represented to the Department by his Excellency, Mr. Gabriel G. Tassara, Minister Plenipotentiary of Her Catholic Majesty, that the Spanish Government have reason to apprehend that expeditions have departed or may depart from the United States to engage or mingle in the war which is raging in a portion of the Island of San Domingo. The representation, however, is supported by no direct evidence, and is so general in its terms as to afford no guide for inquiries by the Government; nevertheless, upon its being submitted to the President, he has thought it proper to maintain not only the fact but also the manifestation of non-interference, and thus faithfully to perform on our part towards other States the neutral obligations of which we so strongly exact performance on their part toward the United States."

Salmon P. Chase (1808-1873) was born in New Hampshire and studied law before establishing a law practice in Cincinnati, Ohio. He frequently defended fugitive slaves in court. He left the Whig Party for the Liberty Party in 1841 and helped create the Free Soil Party in 1848. He represented Ohio in the U.S. Senate from 1849 to 1855 and served as Governor of Ohio from 1856 to 1860. Abraham Lincoln appointed Chase as his first Secretary of the Treasury, a position he held from 1861 to mid-1864. In December 1864, Lincoln nominated Chase as Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, a position he held until his death.

Charles Almy (1819-1886) was born in Rhode Island and began teaching school at age 17. He later opened a country store but soon moved to Boston, where he became an auction and commission merchant. He participated in the business of whaling in New Bedford, Massachusetts, until the Civil War. He served as Collector of Customs at Fall River, Massachusetts, from 1861 to 1865. He joined the insurance business in 1864 and continued in that work until his death. Originally a Democrat, he became a Free Soiler in 1848 and then a Republican. In 1880, 1881, and 1882, he was the Prohibition Party candidate for governor.

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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  • Dimensions: 8" x 10"
  • Medium: Printed Doc

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