Raynor HCA 2013-01
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 1/10/2013
Newspaper: December 25, 1802 edition of The Tree of Liberty (Pittsburgh: Printed and Published by John Israel) , four pages, 10.75" x 17.25". Some marginal wear including light chips and tears, light dampstains, expected folds, and light toning. Ohio Becomes a state. A report of tremendous import for the citizens of western Pennsylvania as immigration into the Ohio valley added more states to the trans-Appalachian west and hence it's political influence in Washington. Appearing on the front page, the report reads: "Frankfort [Kentucky], Dec. 9. STATE OF OHIO - Extract of a letter from a gentleman in CHILLICOTHE, to a member of our general assembly, dated November 28th, 1802. 'I am happy in having it in my power to inform you we have shaken off the old shackles of territorial government, to become a State. The convention last evening finished the constitution, and have now under consideration the propositions of Congress. Since your inclination leads you to public life, a part in which I now hear you are acting in the general assembly of Kentucky; I will state some of the outlines of our constitution. The general assembly shall consist of a senate and a house of representatives, to be chosen by the people, the latter in the ratio of one for every six hundred; and the former to be in number equal to half to the latter; for that our first assembly shall consist of thirty two representatives and sixteen senators. The representatives to be chosen annually; and the senators biennially; in such manner that one half the number shall go out every year. A representative must be twenty five years of age, a citizen of the United States, and one year a resident of the county for which he was chosen. A senator must be thirty five years of age, and have been a citizen of the United States and of his county two years…." After setting forth salaries and the structure of the judiciary, our man in Chillicothe reports that: "Slavery is not to be admitted; but white people may indent themselves for any term; but blacks cannot for more than one year, except minors, who may indent themselves until the age of twenty one." That didn't mean that blacks enjoyed equal rights: "No person of color emigrating to this state, can be entitled to suffrage, or hold any office." In addition: "No person is entitled to suffrage who does not pay taxes; and as no poll tax is ever to be laid, persons who have no property will not be entitled to suffrage." The issue also features the entire text of Thomas Jefferson's Second Annual Address to Congress, better known today as a 'State of the Union Address.' Jefferson's message discussed a variety of matters, including the recent transfer of Louisiana from Spain to France; "The cession of the Spanish Province of Louisiana to France, which took place in the course of the late war, will, if carried into effect, make a change in the aspect of our foreign relations which will doubtless have just weight in any deliberations of the Legislature connected with that subject." The Barbary Pirates also loomed large on Jefferson's foreign policy plate: "There was reason not long since to apprehend that the warfare in which we were engaged with Tripoli might be taken up by some other of the Barbary Powers. A reenforcement, therefore, was immediately ordered to the vessels already there. Subsequent information, however, has removed these apprehensions for the present. To secure our commerce in that sea with the smallest force competent, we have supposed it best to watch strictly the harbor of Tripoli. Still, however, the shallowness of their coast and the want of smaller vessels on our part has permitted some cruisers to escape unobserved, and to one of these an American vessel unfortunately fell prey. The captain, one American sea man, and two others of color remain prisoners with them unless exchanged under an agreement formerly made with the Bashaw, to whom, on the faith of that, some of his captive subjects had been restored." The issue also includes news of the Haitian rebellion led by Toussiant L'Ovurture and the attempts of the French general Rochambeau to suppress it, including reports that the French forces had evacuated most of the western ports "except Port au Prince and St. Marks… That from the eighteenth to the thirteenth of October, the stench arising from the dead bodies in the harbour of the Cape was inconceivably great, there being hundreds of blacks destroyed by throwing them into the sea from onboard of vessels." In other news, a report from Philadelphia brings updates of news from New Orleans: "…expectations are formed that the intendant of Louisiana will be induced to revoke his late order, before any material injury can result to the western people or to our commercial interests generally."
Click on a thumbnail above to display a larger image below
Hold down the mouse button and slide side to side to see more thumbnails(if available).
Click above for larger image.