[Two important speeches - excellent copies]

Item Details

Washington, DC, various, 1849-1866, unbound

excellent

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Before and After: 1849 (the storm on the horizon) and 1866 (what now?)

President Zachary TAYLOR (1784-1850) & President James Abram GARFIELD (1831-1881).

[Two important speeches, from 1849 and 1866: before and after]. Both excellent uncut and unopened examples.

1. President Zachary TAYLOR (1784-1850) [State of the Union Address]. Message of the President of the United States to Congress. Washington, D.C.: ‘For sale at the office of the Republic’, ‘December 4th, 1849’. Octavo. Pp. [1-]8. Uncut, unopened. (Old folds, spotted).

Excellent unsophisticated copy of Taylor’s 1849 ‘State of the Union Address’.

“The 1849 State of the Union Address was delivered by the 12^th president of the United Stets Zachary Taylor …  on December 4, 1849. …

In this address, Taylor reflected on the United States' stability and growing influence in international relations. He remarked, "The United States of America at this moment present to the world the most stable and permanent Government on earth," crediting the nation's resilience to the foundations laid by preceding generations.

Taylor emphasized peace with foreign nations, noting the United States' commitment to neutrality despite ongoing conflicts in Europe. He declared, "We have been able to maintain amidst all these contests an independent and neutral position," indicating a preference for avoiding entanglement in European affairs.

The address also outlined critical issues at home, including expanding territories and relations with Mexico. Taylor supported California's imminent request for statehood and called for Congress to consider the political futures of California and New Mexico, …. He advised against introducing sectional issues that could lead to division, recalling the Founding Fathers’ ' warnings.

Taylor further addressed infrastructure and commerce, advocating for government support in developing transportation routes, including a possible transcontinental railroad. This infrastructure was critical for connecting the growing territories in the West with the rest of the Union.

In his message, Taylor acknowledged the need for vigilance in defending the Union, describing it as "the proudest monument" of the American people and expressing his dedication to its preservation. His appeal was directed at sustaining national unity in a period marked by the divisive issues of expansion and slavery“ (wikipedia).

[with:]

2. President James Abram GARFIELD (1831-1881). [Caption title:] Freedmen’s Bureau – Restoration of the Rebel States. Speech of Hon. James A. Garfield, of Ohio, in the House of Representatives, February 1, 1866. [Washington, D.C.:] printed at the Congetional Globe Office, [undated but 1866]. 8pp. Uncut and unopened. (Some soiling and creasing).

A rare unsophisticated copy of an important contribution to the debate over the true meaning of emancipation and how it should be implemented.

James A. Garfield’s February 1, 1866 speech in the U.S. House of Representatives powerfully argued that true freedom for formerly enslaved people required not just emancipation but full citizenship and participation in American democracy, urging Congress to fulfill the nation’s moral and legal promises by enshrining equality and voting rights into law. This speech was highly significant in the history of post–Civil War Reconstruction, as it articulated the ethical foundation for extending civil rights to Black Americans and influenced the national debate on how to rebuild the country on principles of justice, equality, and lasting peace.

Whilst Garfield’s speech was important for articulating the case for Black citizenship and suffrage, it did not have the same direct legislative impact as Charles Sumner’s or Thaddeus Stevens’ speeches (dated Feb. 6th and May 8th, 1866, respectively), which were tied to major amendments and policy proposals, including the 14th Amendment.