LOT Old Heritage Auctions  /  2007 Oct. Marketplace Auction #87101  / 

90121

Rare 1860 Florida Declaration Secession Document

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:100.00 USD Estimated At:1.00 - 1,000,000.00 USD
Rare 1860 Florida Declaration Secession Document
<B>Rare 1860 Florida Declaration Regarding State Secession</B></I>. This is a major historical document, perhaps heretofore unknown and unpublished, in which Florida’s St. Johns county expresses its desire to avoid secession. This eloquent document, surely one of very few copies and possibly the only one extant, was written on the eve of a special convention held in Tallahassee in early January, 1861 to consider whether Florida should leave the Union. On January 10, 1861 the delegates voted 62 to 7 to withdraw Florida from the Union. The declaration, four pages, 8” x 12.5”, on blue-tinted laid paper, St. Augustine, December 22, 1860, is signed by David R. Dunham, B. E. Carr, Bartolo Oliveros, P. B. Dumas, John S. Masters “<I>and fifty one others</B></I>”, slightly toned, else in fine condition. It reads in part: “<I>The undersigned residents of St. Johns County and citizens of the State of Florida an Integral part of the United States of America, having the good of the Whole Country and particularly our State, alone in view, desire to set forth this Declaration of our convictions and opinions as to the proper course to be observed by the Convention of the people of Florida…We deprecate a dissolution of that Union under which we have so long lived and prospered if it can be saved without dishonor to the South; and as much as we deplore Separate and immediate State Secession, which we believe must result ere long in deep repentance and possibly end in anarchy, blood and Civil War…We regard the preservation of the Union, as second only to the rights and interests it was intended to secure. And we would exhaust every means of redress within the Union, before resorting to a disruption of its ties…We would appeal to the Conservatism of the Country, North and South…and that Conservatism should respect the principle of non intervention by Congress with the subject of Slavery…We believe that State Secession is a deliberate abandonment of all the rights and interests secured by valor and wisdom of our Fathers; and that Revolution…Should these just and moderate demands be not accorded to us or refused, Then, we shall at least meet the Foe with a United South; and with the Tomb of Washington and the city that bears his name within our borders, will as one man embrace the stern and dreadful alternative Revolution! And on the Battlements of our outward wall hand out the Banner of Southern Confederacy…</B></I>”. Attached to the document by wax seal is an autograph copy of David R. Dunham’s cover letter to ex-governor Thomas Brown, who was to take the declaration to the convention on behalf of St. John’s County. A hand-written copy of Brown’s reply is written on the verso of Dunham’s letter. A wonderful document and certainly a museum quality holding. The document is sold with an 8 page, 5.5” x 9” printed pamphlet, dated January 27, 1836, House of Representatives document number 80, titled “Hostile Indians in Florida”, in fine condition. This document relates to provocations which later became known as the Second Seminole War.<BR><BR><BR><b>Shipping:</b> Flat Material, Small (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.heritageauctions.com/common/shipping.php">view shipping information</a>)
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