Raynors HCA 2016-06
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 6/17/2016
RANDOLPH, Edmund (August 10, 1753 – September 12, 1813) was an American attorney, the seventh Governor of Virginia, the second Secretary of State, and the first United States Attorney Genera Document Signed “Edm: Randolph” Broadside, 13-1/2” x 8”, Philadelphia. 1795. Old fold lines. Minor toning and a few small tears at extremities. Very good. An Act passed by the Third Congress appropriating funds for the military, in particular, those troops sent to Western Pennsylvania to quell the Whiskey Rebellion. George Washington's presidential message of November 22, 1792 advocated a tax on distilled spirits, and Alexander Hamilton was a strong proponent of the whiskey excise tax, which was part of his overall plan for putting the Federal Government on a sound fiscal basis. As with many of his other proposals, it aroused bitter opposition in some quarters. Some objected that it laid federal taxes which properly belong to the states, while frontier representatives considered themselves singled out for an onerous tax. The impact of the whiskey revenue took several years to take full effect while the system of collectors was installed. Growing resistance to the tax continued to develop through the summer of 1794 when the Whiskey Rebellion really began. Congress repealed the excise tax on distilled spirits in March 1797, effectively ending the cause of the revolt. "Approved, thirty first Decr. 1794," and signed in print by Speaker of the House Frederick Augustus Muhlenberg, Vice President John Adams, and President George Washington. Two states of this imprint are noted. One, Evans 29689, includes a statement of deposition: "Deposited among the rolls in the Office of the Secretary of State. Secretary of State," and is signed by Secretary of State Edmund Randolph. The other, Bristol B9365, is without this statement. This is the former, signed by Secretary of State Edmund Randolph. NAIP locates four copies in all, but does not distinguish between the two states. Scarce in either format, and particularly rare with the signature of the Secretary of State. Edmund Randolph became the second Secretary of State on Jan. 2, 1794, succeeding Thomas Jefferson, who resigned at the end of 1793. He continued the practice begun in the First Congress of the Secretary of State signing a small number of "official" copies of Congressional acts for distribution to the States and important government officials. After the Third Congress, official acts were no longer signed in manuscript by the Secretary of State.
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