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THBVirginia Governor "Light Horse" Harry Lee, Hand-Signed Circular Discussing Clemency for Slaves, 1794
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About Auction
LiveSep 8, 2017 - Sep 9, 2017
Cowan's Auctions dawnie@cowans.com
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- Lot Description
Lee, Henry "Light Horse" Harry (1756-1818). Revolutionary War hero, Virginia Governor, and father to Confederate General Robert E. Lee. Partially printed DS as Governor of Virginia, "Henry Lee," 1p, 6.5 x 8.25 in., "Richmond." January 25, 1794.
A Circular in which Governor Lee requests that the county clerks fill positions of "Escheator," individuals overseeing land returned to the state in the absence of legal heirs, and more importantly, advises the county officials to forward any cases of "the condemnation of slaves" to him to be considered for clemency.
Lee states, in full:
IT is essentially necessary that all vacancies in the office of Escheator, within this Commonwealth, be filled up. I request that you will be so good as to recommend to me, without delay, a fit person within your country, to be commissioned as Escheator, in case there should be no such officer at present; but if there be one already commissioned, be pleased to direct your Clerk to certify his name, and the time of his qualifying, to me. I have also to request that you will instruct your Clerk, in all future cases of the condemnation of slaves, to forward to the Executive, the proceedings of the court previous to the sentence being carried into effect, whether the condemned person to be considered as an object of mercy or not; and to acknowledge the receipt of this letter, with the one inclosed [not present] to the Escheator of your county, which I recommend to your care.
Although Lee owned slaves until he was forced to liquidate his holdings in the late 1790s due to bankruptcy, he personally opposed the institution of slavery. However, during his three terms as Governor of Virginia and time in Congress, he did his best to defend the legal state of affairs. He was fearful, like many southerners, that the slaves would rise up and revolt against their owners. While Lee once lamented that a provision had not been made in the 1787 US Constitution "for the gradual abolition of slavery," he did not want to infringe upon the rightful property of the citizens.
Lee, Henry. Memoirs of the War in the Southern Department of the United States, 1812, Vol. 1, p. 234.
Condition
Even toning, but very fine condition overall. Light folds, including few week folds reinforced with archival tape. Signature very fine.
Surface grime, craquelure (rather unstable with beginning of paint flaking), one chip at bottom right corner affecting part of the signature. UV light examination revealed no in-painting.
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