Read and Circulate! Speech of Gov. Daniel S. Dickinson An Old Jackson Democrat, delivered at the Great Union Meeting Held at the City of Albany, May 20, 1863.

PRESERVING THE UNION AT ALL COSTS

First edition. 8vo. Self-wrappers. Leaves detached, creased with old folds, minor browning. With a contemporary inscription on the title: "From Josiah / We are all well". 8pp. San Francisco, R. C. Moore,

Daniel S. Dickinson (1800-1866) served as New York's Attorney General during the Civil War until Lincoln appointed him US Attorney for the Southern District in early 1865.

 

Published by order of the Union State Central Committee, and delivered in the wake of the Emancipation Proclamation, Dickinson's speech commences in dramatic fashion: "That the rebellion is upon us which threatens the very existence of this Union is denied by none ... That this war was commenced in a corrupt and perjured conspiracy, and murderous thieving rebellion, will not be denied ..." He continues thus on his opposition to the war and, in particular his plea to preserve the Union which is his priority: "if Democrats won't go with me, I will go with Republicans; if Republicans won't go with me, I will go with Abolitionists, and if Abolitionists won't go with me, and if white men won't go with me, I will go with black men; and if that is treason to party or country, then make the most of it ..."

 

The Union State Central Committee was similarly adamant in prosecuting the war to its conclusion, and this speech was likely printed in order to be circulated at their convention on June 17, the same year.

 

Rare: OCLC locates copies at California State, UC Berkeley and UC Santa Barbara only.

Stock Code: 251767