Oct 29, 2009 - Sale 2192

Sale 2192 - Lot 25

Price Realized: $ 1,020
?Final Price Realized includes Buyer’s Premium added to Hammer Price
Estimate: $ 1,000 - $ 1,500
PREVENTING WAR WITH FRANCE PINCKNEY, CHARLES. Autograph Letter Signed, as Governor of South Carolina, to Timothy Pickering ("To The Secretary of State"), replying to his letter "on the subject of secret enlistments said to be forming within the bounds of this state for improper & illegal purposes," sending a copy of a proclamation he issued to discover and apprehend those engaged in "pernicious practices" [not present], and offering assurances that "no Exertions of mine shall be wanting to support the Laws & preserve the neutrality of the United States." 1 page, folio; uneven faint toning and foxing, docketed on verso with mostly marginal bleed-through, few short closed edge tears, mounted along top edge verso to a larger sheet. Charleston [SC], 4 September 1797
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At the time of writing, Federalist elements in South Carolina were raising support for a war against France, but the Adams administration ostensibly desired that the U.S. remain neutral. In the present letter, Pinckney affirms to the Secretary of State his commitment to help preserve the peace.
Pinckney (1757-1824) was a delegate to the Federal Convention, submitted a proposal for the U.S. Constitution, served as U.S. senator from South Carolina, 1799-1801, and served as governor of South Carolina, 1789-92, 1797-99, and 1807-09; he was also second cousin of Charles C. and Thomas Pinckney.