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Auction: 321 - The Numismatic Collector's Series Sale and Stocks and Bonds of the Americas
Lot: 875

Anti-Masonry; Stevens, Thaddeus (1792-1868). U.S. Representative-Pennsylvania, a leader of the Radical Republican faction of the Republican Party during the 1860's; as Chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, Stevens played a major part in the financing of the Civil War; staunch opponent of slavery and discrimination against African-Americans. Legal Document - Libel Case of Thaddeus Stevens vs. Jacob Lefever. 6 pages, folio, Nov. 14, 1831. Lengthy and detailed suit against Lefever for libel brought by Attorney M.L. Fuller on behalf of Stevens. "…the said Lefever, well knowing the premises, but greatly envying the state and condition of the said Thaddeus and contriving and wickedly and maliciously intending to injure the said Thaddeus Stevens in his good name fame and credit, and to bring him into public infamy scandal and disgrace amongst all his neighbours and other good and worthy citizens; to vex, harass, and wholly ruin him…" From Lefever's calumny, Fuller says Stevens has suffered damages of $20,000. Born in poverty in rural Vermont with a clubfoot, Stevens, thanks to the dedication and vision of his mother, was able to pursue academic studies (in which he showed great brilliance). After graduating from Dartmouth in 1814, he briefly taught, before moving to Pennsylvania where he became a talented lawyer and then entered the sphere of politics. Stevens' first political case was Anti-Masonry. In 1826, William Morgan of Batavia, NY, disappeared and was presumed murdered. Morgan planned to publish a book revealing the secret rites of the Masons (which was published after he disappeared), and it was thought that he had been kidnapped and killed by angered local Masons (his body was never found, and an actual murder was never satisfactorily proven). The public outcry was great and took on larger political overtones as the leading candidate against President John Quincy Adams, General Andrew Jackson was an outspoken Mason. Opposition to Jackson after his election found focus in the newly created Anti-Masonic Party. In 1829, Thaddeus Stevens organized a meeting of opponents of secret societies at the Gettysburg courthouse, then launched a weekly, the Anti-Masonic 'Star'. In 1831, Stevens gave a fiery speech at an Anti-Masonic rally in Hagerstown, MD. Jacob Lefever, a leading Freemason and publisher and editor of the Gettysburg 'Compiler' received an account of Steven's speech from his correspondent and published it without revision even though it contained libelous comment. Stevens brought a civil suit which finally ended in 1834. Some foxing and age toning, one fold has been tape backed. Very Good. Includes illustration of Thaddeus Stevens.

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