Speech of Mr. Brockway, of Connecticut, on the Sub-Treasury Bill. Delivered in the House of Representatives, in Committee of the Whole on the State of the Union, June 2, 1840.
Washington, DC: Gales and Seaton, 1840. Paperback. 8vo. 18pp. Very good. Outer wrappers (only) lightly soiled and age toned. Item #40429
Attractive first edition, clean-edged and internally bright. The two-term Whig congressman (1801-70) argues passionately against the Democrats bill to create an independent treasury to control federal funds instead of the state banks -- a favorite measure of President Martin Van Buren, who signed the bill into law later that month. Many of the Whig speeches against the subtreasury bill also served as campaign circulars for Van Buren's opponent in the election of 1840; the economic downturn of the late 1830s was blamed on the Democrats and their leader, "Martin Van Ruin." Whig candidate William Henry Harrison who handily won. This drably-titled pamphlet is a fine example of this fiery time. Too secondary to warrant inclusion in Work and Cronin.
Price: $45.00