LOT Old Heritage Auctions  /  2007 December Signature Texana Auction #661  / 

56022

Robert Owen; reply to Rev. Alex Campbell; 1829

Currency:USD Category:Books / Antiquarian & Collectible Start Price:2,200.00 USD Estimated At:3,750.00 - 5,000.00 USD
Robert Owen; reply to Rev. Alex Campbell; 1829
<B><I>Robert Owen's Opening Speech, and his Reply to the Rev. Alex. Campbell, in the Recent Public Discussion in Cincinnati, to Prove that the Principles of all Religions are Erroneous</B></I></B></I> <B><I>Robert Owen's Opening Speech, and his Reply to the Rev. Alex. Campbell, in the Recent Public Discussion in Cincinnati, to Prove that the Principles of all Religions are Erroneous</B></I></B></I><B> </B></I><I>...also, Mr. Owen's Memorial to the Republic of Mexico, and a Narrative of the Proceedings Thereon, which led to the promise of the Mexican Government, to place a District, one hundred and fifty miles broad, along the whole line of frontier bordering on the U. States, under Mr. Owen's jurisdiction, for the purpose of establishing a New Political and Moral System of Government, founded on the laws of nature, as explained in the above Debate with Mr. Campbell.</B></I> Cincinnati: <I>Published for Robert Owen, and Sold by all Booksellers in America and Europe</B></I>. 1829, 226 pp., addenda, 1 leaf, verso blank. Contents [7] pp. Quarto. Being a rare account of the famous utopian organizer's idea of an independent society in Texas, to be guaranteed by the government of Mexico. Owen considered Texas to the "the most desirable point on the globe" on which to establish a utopian government based on "systematic, scientific" principles. <BR><BR>Just prior to this publication, Owen had purchased the New Harmony settlement in Indiana to serve as a basis for his American utopian experiments, and that venture soon replaced the Texas scheme in the eyes of himself and fellow visionaries such as William MacClure. Despite the title page announcement of Mexico's promise of land, there is no record that Owen was ever granted such a tract (Rusk, Vol. II, p. 256).<BR><BR>As noted in Streeter's <I>Texas</B></I>: "Owen gives an interesting account of his journey and of his proceedings in Mexico in January and February 1829. There are many references to Richard Exter, owner of a large Texas grant, in whose house he stayed. Owen was received with great consideration by President Victoria, but as one of his principles was that 'all religions are erroneous and ... their practice is injurious to the human race,' he could not get very far on a grant of land in Roman Catholic Mexico."<BR><BR>Plain boards with leather label on cloth backstrip: <I>Owen's View of Public Discussion.</B></I> In some copies the [7] p. of Contents are bound in between p. [iv] and [v]. Protected in a red full-leather case with raised bands and gilt lettering. Moderate to significant age toning and foxing throughout; some water staining to final pages. <I>From the collection of Darrel Brown.</B></I><BR><BR><B>Reference:</B></I> Streeter 1110.<BR><BR><b>Shipping:</b> Books & Catalogs (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.heritageauctions.com/common/shipping.php">view shipping information</a>)
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