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Sale 35
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Lot 220
Washington, George & Huntington, Samuel. Letter Signed as First President of the United States, 1p, 9x7¼", United States, 26 Feb. 1790. Addressed to one of the Governors of the twelve United States, each of whom received a similar letter from the President. In. full: "Sir, I have the honor to transmit to your Excellency an Act passed in the second Session of the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States - entitled 'an Act for giving effect to the several Acts therein mentioned, in respect to the State of North Carolina, and other purposes.' I have the honor to be, With due consideration Your Excellency's Most Obedient Servant Go:Washington." Housed in a handsome, custom-made, cocoa-colored holder with black leather spine and tips and gilt lettering.
Huntington, Samuel. Autograph Letter Signed "S. Huntington" as Governor of Connecticut, 1p, 11x7¼", Norwich (CT), 27 Feb. 1790. Very good; somewhat brittle, with breaks at top margin and edges of top fold; moderately toned; archival reinforcement to two lower folds on verso, old tape marks at top of letter, affecting only the word "Norwich." Addressed "To the President of the United States of America. Sir I am honoured with your letter of the 20th, Instant covering An Act Entitled an Act for giving effect to several Acts therein mentioned in respect to the State of North Carolina, & other purposes…." The docket on verso reads, "President Washington Febry 27th: 1790 No. 2" probably indicating that this was the copy written by Huntington to be kept in his files. Housed in a handsome, custom-made, cocoa-colored holder with black leather spine and tips and gilt lettering. Huntington signed the Declaration of Independence and was a member of the Continental Congress (1776-84), serving as its president (1779-81). He was Governor of Connecticut from 1896 to 1896.
In 1585 and 1587, North Carolina was the scene of the first attempts to establish English settlers in America. The first attempt, led by Ralph Lane, failed. The second colony, led by John White and built on Roanoke Island, mysteriously disappeared, leaving only the word "Croatan" carved on a tree. From this "Lost Colony" came Virginia Dare, the first child born to English parents in America. In 1663, North Carolina became a proprietary colony under a charter granted by Charles II; it was named in honor of his father, Charles I. In 1729, seven of the eight proprietors sold their interests to the Crown and North Carolina became a royal colony. In 1774, the colony sent delegates to the First Continental Congress, and on April 12, 1776, North Carolina became the first colony to instruct its delegates to vote for independence. Later that year, North Carolina adopted its first constitution and chose Richard Caswell as governor. On July 21, 1778, the colony ratified the Articles of Confederation. During the American Revolution, there was relatively little fighting within the colony, but many North Carolinians saw action elsewhere. In 1788 North Carolina delayed approving the United States Constitution until the Bill of Rights was added, assuring certain freedoms for the people, many of which had been suggested by North Carolina at the Hillsboro Convention of 1788. Finally, on November 21, 1789, North Carolina ratified the Constituion, becoming the twelfth state in the Union. While copies of the Acts referred to in these letters are not extant, they leave a paper trail in the wake of the most recently created United State and, as such, represent an invaluable piece of American history.
Estimated Value $70,000 - 80,000.
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