Beschreibung:

3 Autograph Letters Signed ("Rich H. Dana Jr"), 9 pp, 4to and 8vo, Boston, n.p. and Cambridge, October 15, 1844, March 13, 1858, and May 18, 1867, to an unidentifiable recipient, Miss Weston, and Edward J.R. Kirby, some separation and reinforcement at folds. Dana writes concerning contemporary politics ("The two parties, Whig & Democrat, are really the conservative & radical parties of the Republic. The Whigs are in favor of the supremacy of the Constitution ... upholding of checks & balances &c. &c. The conservative party is more or less tinged with the extremes of radicalism ... They favor ... inalienable rights, niche majorities over-rife the Constitution, &c. &c ..."); the abolitionist movement ("I am much obliged to you for reminding me of my opportunity to do something for the Freesoils...."); and the State debt ("We here defeated the Bouty [?] Bill, and saved the State many millions. They began with a majority of 72, & were gradually beaten down ... There were two objects in view, one to reduce the State debt, and the other to resist the ... dynasty of associated [Railroad Companies] ... I do not want to hear the Republican party meet the electors next fall with a state burdened by debt and ridden by rail roads..."). Dana helped found the anti-slavery Free Soil Party in 1848 and later defended fugitive slave, Anthony Burns, in Boston in 1854. After serving as a US Attorney during the Civil War, he returned to his home state and sat on the Massachusetts Legislature until 1868.