Description:

Zachary Taylor
Washington, D.C., May 16, 1850
Zachary Taylor Rare DS as Pres. Signed Appt. For Abolitionist U.S. Marshal
DS
Zachary Taylor signed appointment for Anthony E. Roberts to Marshal of Eastern District of PA. 1p, measuring 15.5" x 10.5", Washington, D.C., dated May 16, 1850. Signed "Z. Taylor" and countersigned by J. M. Clayton, Secretary of State. With a white paper seal affixed at the lower left. Mounted to a thick board to the overall size of 24" x 18", with a collateral document matted on the verso. With flattened mail folds and light toning. Minor soiling or staining in places. Very boldly signed.

Reading in part:
"Know ye that reposing special trust & confidence in the Integrity, Ability & Diligence, of Anthony E. Roberts, I have Nominated, and, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate DO APPOINT HIM Marshal of the United States in & for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, and do authorize & empower him to execute & fulfil the duties of that Office according to Law; And to have and to hold the said Office, with all the powers, privileges, & emoluments to the same of right appertaining unto him the said Anthony E. Roberts, for the term of four years from the day of the date hereof, unless the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES for the time being, should be pleased sooner to revoke and determine this commission…"

Anthony Ellmaker Roberts (1803-1885) was an American politician, member of the United States House of Representatives, abolitionist, and close associate of Thaddeus Stevens. Roberts held his appointment as the United States Marshal for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania until May 29, 1853. Just a few months after Roberts was appointed, Congress passed the Fugitive Slave Law as part of the Compromise of 1850. The law put Roberts in a difficult position as an abolitionist because he was expected to enforce laws promoting the return of runaway slaves to the South or risk a fine of one thousand dollars per incident.

One such incident that Roberts was involved in occurred on September 11, 1851. Edward Gorsuch, a Maryland slave owner, came to Christiana in Lancaster County to reclaim a runaway slave named Nelson Ford. In opposition, a group of runaway slaves in Christiana, headed by William Parker, had formed a vigilante group to protect one another from any attempts by Southern slave owners to recapture them. Edward Gorsuch learned that his former slave was staying with William Parker and went to the house with a small posse. In a fight that involved the fugitive slaves as well as some local white abolitionists, Gorsuch was killed. Roberts was sent to the scene with a detachment of Philadelphia police, and those who participated in the resistance were arrested and put on trial. However, Roberts did his best to make sure that the jailed men were well looked after and even did his best to sway the outcome of the trials, for which he was later censured for lack of "impartiality" and witness tampering. In the end, the men involved in the resistance were either acquitted or the prosecution decided not to prosecute the remaining cases.

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: 24" x 18"
  • Medium: DS

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