THE ERA OF GOOD
FEELINGS was the period in the United States that
reflected a sense of national purpose and a desire for unity among Americans
after the War of 1812. The era saw the collapse of the Federalist Party and an
end to the bitter partisan disputes between it and the dominant Democratic-Republican
Party. Historians treated the era with
skepticism as the political atmosphere was strained and divisive especially
among factions within the Monroe Administration and the Republican Party. The phrase Era of Good Feelings was coined by
Benjamin Russell in the Boston Federalist newspaper, Columbian Centinel on July
12, 1817 following Monroe’s visit to Boston, MA, as part of his goodwill tour. The
most perfect expression of the Era of Good Feelings Tour were Monroe’s visits
to New England and to the Federalist stronghold of Boston.
Our single page document, 8 x 9 ¾, provides a fascinating
look into some of those who lived during the period as Democratic-Republicans
and Federalists. Our writer has passed
this list of names on for review, presumably for the creation of an
organization to honor those who were part of the Era of Good Feelings. He writes, “I have taken the liberty to
inclose [sic] this for your inspection, having marked opposite the names of the
gentlemen the Politicks they have supported, believing it still to be of some
importance to maintain a preponderance in New England notwithstanding so much
boasting of the ‘Era of good feelings.’”
Under the column, “Board elected Sept. 1878, the names of
nearly 20 politicians are listed with their political designations and a second
list of four names “recommended”, possibly for induction. Several were members
of the American Antiquarian Society. The
list: Seth Wheaton, Nicholas Brown, James D’Wolf, Edward Carrington, George D’Wolf,
Philip Allen, E.K. Dexter, Henry P. Franklin, Thomas Coles, Christopher Ellery,
Richmond, Bullock, Samuel Arnold, Charles Potter, Samuel Eddy, Richard Jackson,
Hezekiah Sabin Jr. and Samuel Whitmore.
We’ve found biographical information on several. The list
includes a slave dealer, his nephew who continued the trade even after it was
made illegal by congress and punishable by hanging, the namesake of Brown
University, president of the American Bank of Providence, RI, President Thomas
Jefferson’s Collector of Customs in Newport, RI, Congressman and Chief Justice
of the Rhode Island Supreme Court, and a man we believe to have been a
lieutenant colonel in George Washington’s Army as a Second Commandant of the notable
Second Company from Connecticut.
NICHOLAS BROWN JR. (April 4, 1769 – September 27, 1841) was a Providence, RI,
businessman and philanthropist who was the namesake of Brown University. He served in the state legislature as a
Federalist.
JAMES DEWOLF (March 18, 1764-December 21, 1837) was a slave trader, a privateer
during the War of 1812. He gained notoriety in 1791 when indicted for murdering
a female slave said to have smallpox whom he believed threatened the lives of
other slaves and crew because of the disease. The case was dismissed and
considered justifiable under contemporary law.
DeWolf financed 25 slaving voyages. During his lifetime, his name was
usually written “James DWolf” as it is in our document. He served in the Rhode Island state legislature
for nearly 25 years and in the 1820s as a United States Senator from Rhode Island.
Our document identifies him as a Republican.
GEORGE
DEWOLF, the nephew of James, is
also listed as a Republican on our document. He carried on the slave voyages illegally
until 1820. Congress had made the importing of slaves an offense punishable by
hanging in 1808. All told, the DeWolf
family is said to have brought over 11,000 slaves.
HENRY P. FRANKLIN, listed as a Republican, was bank president and director of
the American Bank of Providence and a textile producer.
CHRISTOPHER ELLERY (November 1, 1768-December 2, 1840) was a United States Senator
from Rhode Island. He was born in Newport and graduated from Yale College in
1787. Ellery was elected as a Democratic-Republican
to the U.S. Senate. He was later appointed by Thomas Jefferson as United States
Commissioner of Loans at Providence and was appointed Collector of Customs at
Newport.
SAMUEL EDDY (March 31, 1769-February 3, 1839) was a graduate of Brown University
and U.S. Representative from Rhode Island.
He also served as Rhode Island Secretary of State (1798-1819). Eddy was elected as a Democratic-Republican
to the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Congresses and re-elected as an Adams-Clay
Republican to the Eighteenth Congress.
He also served as associate justice of the Rhode Island Supreme Court
and later served as Chief Justice.
RICHARD JACKSON (July 3, 1764-April 18, 1838) was elected as a Federalist to
the Tenth Congress and re-elected to the Eleventh, Twelfth and Thirteenth,
serving from 1808-1815. He served on the Board of Trustees of Brown University.
HEZEKIAH SABIN, JR. is listed as a Republican. We find a Hezekiah Sabin Jr. as
the second commandant of Second Company who became a Lieutenant Colonel in
Washington’s Army. The Company was
formed as an escort on July 2, 1775, when General Washington passed through New
Haven, CT, on is was to take command of forces around Boston. On July 5th, 1779, the Second
Company, put up a heroic defense of New Haven against a large British invasion
force.
Expected toning with folds. Some remaining attachment paper
on the verso. Very readable and a
wonderful piece of Americana.
Everything we sell is guaranteed authentic
forever to the original buyer. We also offer a 30-day return policy. If you
discover a problem or are dissatisfied with an item, please contact us
immediately. Our goal is to please every customer. We are pleased to be members
of The Manuscript Society, Universal Autograph Collectors Club and The Ephemera
Society. [P 150]