War Powers Act Allow President to Abolish Slavery; Negroes at Port Royal Need Assistance

Three-item lot referring to the President’s power to abolish slavery and to slavery in general.  The first item – “The War Powers of the President and the Legislative Powers of Congress in Relation to Rebellion, Treason and Slavery” by William Whiting -- was given as a gift by the notable Rev. Richard Eddy.  Notation appears on the inside.

EDDY (1828-1906) was ordained to the Universalist ministry in 1852 at Frankfort, NY. He served parishes in New York and in Franklin and Gloucester, MA, as well as Philadelphia.  He was a long-time advocate of temperance and for many years headed the Independent Order of Good Templars.  He delivered more than 2,000 speeches in support of temperance. During the American Civil War he was chaplain of the 60th New York Volunteer Infantry, 1861-63. In 1864 he wrote a history of the regiment.    

The war powers book, Boston: John L. Shorey, 1863. Printed paper wraps, 143pp. Whiting argues that the abolition of slavery was an extension of the President's War Powers. Third edition. A copy of this book reportedly leans against a furniture leg in Carpenter's painting of Lincoln reading the Emancipation Proclamation to his cabinet. 

Cover and cover page missing upper right corner. Some staining on cover. Some toning, but very strong and the internal pages are clean.

Second item by E.L. Pierce, Government Agent to the Hon. Salmon P. Chase, Secretary of the Treasury. Boston: R.F. Wallcut, 1862: “The Negroes of Port Royal.”  36 pp, sewn along the side. Pierce notes that there are many people of color in the islands who recently had been slaves, now in need of education, clothing, etc. as they begin to farm for their own support. 

Toning and light soiling, else very good condition.

Third items is a Speech of Hon. Charles J. Biddle of Pennsylvania, Delivered in the House of Representatives, June 2, 1862 [Washington]: L. Towers & Co., 1862, no wraps, 8 pp.  Biddle addresses the issue of sending diplomats to Liberia and Haiti.

Some scuffing and edge chipping with toning around the edges of the first page. Pages are unbound.

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