1803 Mississippi Question
Report of a Debate in the
Senate of the United States
With Signature Of Dewitt Clinton
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The debate occurred on the
23d, 24th & 25th February 1803, on
certain resolutions concerning the violation
of the right of deposit in the island of New Orleans
Title Page shows signature of DeWitt
Clinton, then Senator and later Governor of New York and Presidential Nominee
By William Duane
DeWitt Clinton was an American politician and naturalist who served as a
United States Senator, Mayor of New York City and sixth Governor of New York.
In this last capacity, he was largely responsible for the construction of the Erie Canal.
Clinton was a major candidate for the American presidency in the election of 1812,
challenging incumbent James Madison. He won election by the New York State
Legislature to the U.S. Senate seat left vacant by the resignation of John Armstrong Jr.,
and served from February 9, 1802 to November 4, 1803 during the period of this
documented debate.
Printed by W. Duane, Philadelphia, 1803,198pp. Modern quarter calf and cloth, spine gilt.
The debates were prompted when the Spanish Intendent at New Orleans suspended
the American right to deposit goods at New Orleans
in October 1802. The right had been guaranteed by Pinckney's Treaty,
also commonly known as the Treaty of San Lorenzo or the Treaty of Madrid,
was signed in San Lorenzo de El Escorial on October 27, 1795 and
established intentions of friendship between the United States and Spain.
It also defined the border between the United States and Spanish Florida,
and guaranteed the United States navigation rights on the Mississippi River.
With this agreement, the first phase of the ongoing border dispute between
the two nations in this region, commonly called the West Florida Controvers',
came to a close.
Inside front cover is a book plate of Charles A. Clinton, probable Charles Alexander Clinton,
son of Dewitt.
5 1/2 inch X 8 ½ inch cover
CONDITION
Pre-Owned
Very Good condition
Untrimmed
Stain from book plate
Light foxing and toning
Faint dampstaining in margin of last few leaves
Clean otherwise
No other damages noted
(see pictures)
D