SLAVERY 1832 RICHMOND VA Letter - THE VIRGINIA SLAVERY DEBATE - Superb Content !

Description

1832 RICHMOND VA LETTER WITH SUPERB CONTENT ABOUT THE LEGISLATURE'S HISTORIC 2-WEEK DEBATE ON WHETHER TO END SLAVERY IN THE STATE.
3 pg. letter, approx. 8" x 9-7/8", dated at
Richmond, Va., Jan. 21, 1832
, from John S. Gallaher, to Dr. Nicholas Montiel, at Harpers Ferry, Va.
Folded letter has red RICHD. VA. cds postmark and manuscript "18-3/4" rate.
The writer of this letter,
John S. Gallaher
, (1796-1877), was born in Martinsburg, Berkeley Co., Va. (now West Va.), a newspaper publisher & editor, and State Legislator, he is considered the father of the Free School System in Va.; Member of the Virginia House of Delegates, 1830-1835, 1842-1844; Virginia State Senate, 1845; In 1849, was appointed by the President as 3rd Auditor of the Treasury.
The letter is to
Dr. Nicholas Marmion
, (1798-1882), a Physician in Harpers Ferry, he treated the soldiers wounded in the
John Brown raid
, and is reputed to have treated John Brown himself before the raid, when he was living on a nearby farm under an assumed name.
Great content regarding the Virginia Slavery Debate, also known as the Virginia Emancipation Debate, which took place during 2 weeks in January, 1832
, when members of the State legislature debated whether to end slavery in the State - a remarkable occurrence in the South at that time. It was triggered by the bloody Nat Turner slave insurrection in late 1831.
Letters discussing the Va. Slavery Debate are very scarce.
Includes:
"Dear Sir,
I have heard with great pain of the death of our friend Mr. Graham. I most cordially sympathize with his bereaved family in their afflictions...
I meet every day, (and he frequently visits me), your worthy young friend, W. Heron, who never fails to inquire for you in the most friendly terms. He was engaged during the last summer, as an Assistant Engineer in the survey of the Valley. He has given up his situation at Bellona Arsenal, and seems disposed to devote his attention to civil engineering.
We have had for the last ten days a most interesting and able debate upon the subject of Slavery. It will probably last two or three days more.
A wonderful Revolution has taken place in popular sentiment in Virginia. Ten years ago, the subject dare scarcely be named in the Legislative Hall, except with a view to draw the chains tighter.
Now
, men openly and boldly talk of sundering the bonds which have so long fettered the
slave
.
Tender my respects to all friends & believe me yours truly,
Jno. S. Gallaher"
Small hole on 3rd page, from when the letter was originally opened at the wax seal, affecting only a couple of words. Fine.
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