May 27, 2020 Founders & Patriots
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/27/2020
[WAR OF 1812]. Cyrus King (1772-1817) as a Representative from Massachusetts. "Debate of the Army Bill / By Mr. King of Mass. in the House / of Representatives of the U.S. Jany. 29. 1814." Manuscript document, apparently in King's hand, 21 pp. on 24 leaves (7 3/4 x 5), with heavy paper covers. Cyrus King, (half brother of Rufus King), born in Scarboro, Maine (then a district of Massachusetts), attended Phillips Academy and was graduated from Columbia College. He served as private secretary to Rufus King when he was Minister to England, later completing law studies in Biddeford and commencing practice in Saco, Maine. He served as major general of the 6th Division, Massachusetts Militia and was elected as a Federalist to the 13th and 14th Congresses. (March 4, 1813-March 3, 1817). King alludes to the "our navy" and the "heroes of which,...have fixed the stars of our flag in the heavens, as a new and brilliant constellation", contrasting it with the "mouldering, dispirited, and I might add, disgraced army and to your contentious, boasting generals, I can scarcely persuade myself that they belong to the same nation, or form part of the same system." King criticizes the proposed Army Bill introduced by the Democratic-Republicans, the bulk of the funding of which would be dedicated towards military campaigns on the northern frontier: "But Canada, it seems, must be conquered! What do we want of Canada?...The canadians will not thank you. They contribute little now towards the expences of their government, but the liberty for which you would give them, they will be severely taxed, at least if you put them on equality with American citizens." He admonishes the majority party for "all the wide waste and ruin in a war professedly for 'free trade and sailors rights'" and then concludes with what would turn out to be a prophetic warning: "Would to God were it possible, from the elevation of this capitol, or from your palace [referring to President Madison and the White House], that this government could behold the disgrace, the distress and ruin, their acts have brought on this country"--seemingly predicting the defeat at Bladensburg and burning of the Capitol and the White House later than summer. CONDITION: uniform toning to the paper, a tear to the right edge of first page (approximately 4 x 3/4 in.), affecting some text. JLK
Provenance: by descent in the General Artemas Ward-Elijah Brigham Family until 2012; private collection to present.