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Alabama's Confederate Constitution. Highly im

Currency:USD Category:Antiques Start Price:600.00 USD Estimated At:1,200.00 - 1,400.00 USD
Alabama's Confederate Constitution. Highly im
Alabama's Confederate Constitution. Highly important imprint: Ordinances and Constitution of the State of Alabama, with the Constitution of the Provisional Government and of the Confederate States of America. "Montgomery Advertiser Book and Job Printing Office" on yellow wrapper, but "Barrett, Wimbish & Co., Steam Printers and Binders" on title page, 1861. 5 1/2 x 9, 152 pp., yellow wrappers. Beginning on page 1, dated Jan. 7, 1861, "An ordnance to dissolve the Union between the State of Alabama and other States united under the compact styled 'The Constitution of the United States of America.' Whereas, the election of Abraham Lincoln and Hannibal Hamlin to the offices of President and Vice President...by a sectional party, avowedly hostile to the domestic institutions and to the peace and security of the people of the State of Alabama...is a political wrong so insulting and menacing in character...that the State of Alabama...is hereby withdrawn from the Union...." Very light dust toning of cover, text with freckling through, actually lending an engaging appearance, else about fine. Floating in specially made folding boards, in turn contained in matching slipcase, with red leather label, stamped in gilt. Light discoloration and rubbing of cloth at spine, else very good. Ex-Harry J. Sonneborn Collection, sold in Sotheby Parke Bernet sale 4389 of 1980, their label affixed to slipcase. Crandall 455, Ellison 1249, Kuhlman p. 1, Marke 66, Parrish & Willingham 2610. Not in Harvard Law Catalog. Very rare.

With, remarkably topical Union soldiers letter, Head Quarters 27th Iowa, Montgomery, Ala., May 11, 1865, 4 full pp., on Christian Commission stationery. "Well this day I was loafing around town when I fell in with some citizens and learned that they seem to have a meeting today to see about restoring the state to the Union. On invitation I went in with them and stayed to hear the discussion. These old men who had been Judges and Foreign Ministers under the United States and had held place and power in the Confederate States now come together and say we will drop the doctrine of secession and state rights and do anything to get back into the old Union. They said they knew what it was to have no government...They were now in the right position to appreciate a good government and only asked what shall we do to meet with favor at the hands of the United States. They said that during this war they had become impoverished and their army destroyed, their commerce taken away, their property burned or taken without compensation and themselves forced into the Rebel army against their will, while the North had grown in numbers and material resources of national prosperity...They passed resolutions abounding with patriotic sentiments and deploring the death of the President by assassination...This shows that the people here are anxious to get back into the old nation...." Fine.