CIVIL WAR CHINESE COOLIES SLAVERY ABOLITIONIST CONGRESSMAN MA AUTOGRAPH SIGNED
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:31458116 | Modified Item: No |
| Original/Reproduction: Original | Country/Region of Manufacture: United States |
| Conflict: Civil War (1861-65) | Theme: Militaria |
THOMAS DAWES ELIOT“…Upon the question of slavery I can have but one judgment; and when itsextension is sought to be effected over Territories now free, I would resist itwithout misgiving and without fear…” T. D. Eliot, Speech in Congress, May10, 1854 (1808 – 1870)CIVIL WAR ANTI-SLAVERY “FREE-SOIL”ABOLITIONIST REPUBLICAN PARTY CONGRESSMAN FROM NEW BEDFORD, MASSACHUSETTS1854-1855 and 1859-1869, MA STATE SENATOR IN 1846MEMBER OF THEMASSACHUSETTS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES... IN 1838&CLOSE FRIEND OF AMERICAN AUTHOR, PHILOSOPHER, and CLERGYMAN, RALPH WALDO EMERSON.Eliot's concern for theoppressed slaves also extended to the plight of American Indians and Chinese slavecoolies. Coolies were recruitedin China as contract laborers but treated like slaves once they arrived inCalifornia. He authored a bill, introduced in December 1861, passed by theThirty-seventh Congress, and signed by President Lincoln in February 1862, which prohibited American vessels from engaging in the trade that broughtcoolies to the United States.< <>>HERE’S ELIOT’S SIGNATURE REMOVEDFROM A 19th CENTURY AUTOGRAPH ALBUM, and SIGNED: “Thomas D. EliotNew BedfordMasstts~”The document has been inlaid toanother sheet, measures 6” x 9” and is in VERY FINE CONDITION.A FINE ADDITION TO YOUR COMMONWEALTHOF MASSACHUSETTS CIVIL WAR ERA POLITICAL HISTORY AUTOGRAPH, MANUSCRIPT &EPHEMERA COLLECTION.<><<::>><>BIOGRAPHY OF THE HONORABLETHOMAS DAWES ELIOTThomas Dawes Eliot (March 20, 1808 – June14, 1870), was a member of the United States House ofRepresentatives from Massachusetts.He was born in Bostonon March 20, 1808. Eliot was named after his grandfather Justice Thomas Dawesof the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court.Eliot attended the public schools of Washington, D.C., and graduated fromColumbian College in the District of Columbia, (now George Washington Universityin 1825. He was admitted to the bar and commenced practice in New Bedford, Massachusetts.Eliot served as a member of the Massachusetts House ofRepresentatives, and served in the Massachusetts State Senate.He was elected as a Whig to theThirty-third Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of ZenoScudder and served from April 17, 1854, to March 3, 1855. Hedeclined to be a candidate for renomination. Eliot was a delegate to the FreeSoil Convention in Worcesterin 1855.He declined to be a candidate for nomination by the Republicanfor Attorney General ofMassachusetts in 1857. He was elected as a Republican to theThirty-sixth and to the four succeeding Congresses (March 4, 1859 – March 3, 1869). Eliot served as Chairman of the CommitteeFreedmen’s Affairs (Thirty-ninth and FortiethCongresses), and the Committee on Commerce(Fortieth Congress). He declined to be a candidate for renomination in 1868. Heresumed the practice of law and died on June 14, 1870. His interment was in OakGrove Cemetery in New Bedford, MA.I am a proud member of the Universal Autograph Collectors Club(UACC), The Ephemera Society of America, the Manuscript Society and theAmerican Political Items Collectors (APIC) (member name: John Lissandrello). Isubscribe to each organizations' code of ethics and authenticity is guaranteed.~Providing quality service and historical memorabilia online for over twentyyears.~WE ONLY SELL GENUINE ITEMS, i.e., NO REPRODUCTIONS, FAKES ORCOPIES!
