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Auction archive: Lot number 26

FILLMORE, Millard (1800-1874), President . Autograph letter signed ("Millard Fillmore"), to Humphrey Marshall, Buffalo, NY, 17 September 1845. 2 pages, 4to, integral blank, two small holes along fold affect a few letters of text, minor split at horiz...

Auction 24.05.2002
24 May 2002
Estimate
US$5,000 - US$7,000
Price realised:
US$4,780
Auction archive: Lot number 26

FILLMORE, Millard (1800-1874), President . Autograph letter signed ("Millard Fillmore"), to Humphrey Marshall, Buffalo, NY, 17 September 1845. 2 pages, 4to, integral blank, two small holes along fold affect a few letters of text, minor split at horiz...

Auction 24.05.2002
24 May 2002
Estimate
US$5,000 - US$7,000
Price realised:
US$4,780
Beschreibung:

FILLMORE, Millard (1800-1874), President . Autograph letter signed ("Millard Fillmore"), to Humphrey Marshall, Buffalo, NY, 17 September 1845. 2 pages, 4to, integral blank, two small holes along fold affect a few letters of text, minor split at horizontal fold , otherwise fine. THE FUTURE PRESIDENT DETAILS THE ABOLITION OF SLAVERY IN NEW YORK AND NOTES HIS BIRTH "WHERE NEGRO SLAVERY NEVER EXISTED, EXCEPT IN THEORY" An interesting letter in which the future President of the United States responds to questions from Marshall regarding the abolition of slavery in New York and its impact. Fillmore enjoyed four terms as a United States Congressman before returning home to Buffalo in 1843. As the primary creator of the Whig Party in Western New York, he actively promoted financial legislation while rarely speaking on the controversial issue of slavery. Fillmore acknowledges Marshall's letter and responds: "I know not the object of the inquiry and regret that [it] is out of my power to give you any thing but second [hand] evidence on that subject." He provides details of legislative acts against slavery: "The first act for the abolition of slavery was passed...during the administration of John Jay...the substance of this act with some additions and modifications was incorporated into a general act on the subject a[nd] passed April 8 t h 1801." He continues: "the act of March 29 t h, 1799 furnished the only rule, by which...every child born of a slave after the date of that act, was declared free, but was to remain as the servant of the owner of his or her mother, if a male until the age of 28 years, and if a female until the age of 25 years," which he notes, was later modified to 21 years for both genders. Fillmore describes revisions to the law enacted in 1830. In an allusion to his disapproval of slavery, Fillmore proudly notes that his circumstances do not allow him to provide more information: "I regret that I am unable to give you any information from personal knowledge of the effect of these laws upon the black or white population of the state. The act of 1799 was passed before my birth, and it was my good fortu[ne] to be born and brought up in the western part of the s[tate] where negro slavery never existed, except in theory. I have therefore no knowledge of the actual working of this process of emancipation." Ironically, Fillmore's willingness to appease southern slave-holding interests during his Presidency by supporting the Fugitive Slave Law, cost him a bid for renomination at the 1852 Whig National Convention.

Auction archive: Lot number 26
Auction:
Datum:
24 May 2002
Auction house:
Christie's
New York, Rockefeller Center
Beschreibung:

FILLMORE, Millard (1800-1874), President . Autograph letter signed ("Millard Fillmore"), to Humphrey Marshall, Buffalo, NY, 17 September 1845. 2 pages, 4to, integral blank, two small holes along fold affect a few letters of text, minor split at horizontal fold , otherwise fine. THE FUTURE PRESIDENT DETAILS THE ABOLITION OF SLAVERY IN NEW YORK AND NOTES HIS BIRTH "WHERE NEGRO SLAVERY NEVER EXISTED, EXCEPT IN THEORY" An interesting letter in which the future President of the United States responds to questions from Marshall regarding the abolition of slavery in New York and its impact. Fillmore enjoyed four terms as a United States Congressman before returning home to Buffalo in 1843. As the primary creator of the Whig Party in Western New York, he actively promoted financial legislation while rarely speaking on the controversial issue of slavery. Fillmore acknowledges Marshall's letter and responds: "I know not the object of the inquiry and regret that [it] is out of my power to give you any thing but second [hand] evidence on that subject." He provides details of legislative acts against slavery: "The first act for the abolition of slavery was passed...during the administration of John Jay...the substance of this act with some additions and modifications was incorporated into a general act on the subject a[nd] passed April 8 t h 1801." He continues: "the act of March 29 t h, 1799 furnished the only rule, by which...every child born of a slave after the date of that act, was declared free, but was to remain as the servant of the owner of his or her mother, if a male until the age of 28 years, and if a female until the age of 25 years," which he notes, was later modified to 21 years for both genders. Fillmore describes revisions to the law enacted in 1830. In an allusion to his disapproval of slavery, Fillmore proudly notes that his circumstances do not allow him to provide more information: "I regret that I am unable to give you any information from personal knowledge of the effect of these laws upon the black or white population of the state. The act of 1799 was passed before my birth, and it was my good fortu[ne] to be born and brought up in the western part of the s[tate] where negro slavery never existed, except in theory. I have therefore no knowledge of the actual working of this process of emancipation." Ironically, Fillmore's willingness to appease southern slave-holding interests during his Presidency by supporting the Fugitive Slave Law, cost him a bid for renomination at the 1852 Whig National Convention.

Auction archive: Lot number 26
Auction:
Datum:
24 May 2002
Auction house:
Christie's
New York, Rockefeller Center
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