Brief Enquiry into the True Nature and Character of Our Federal Govern
Item #53393
UPSHUR, Abel. A Brief Enquiry into the True Nature and Character of Our Federal Government: Being A Review of Judge Story's Commentaries on the Constitution of the United States. Philadelphia: John Campbell, 1863. iv, [4]-131, [1 blank] pp. Original printed wrappers, bound into contemporary quarter calf and marbled boards [bookplate on front pastedown, light wear]. One light rubberstamp number on blank margin of page [3]. Near Fine. The Virginia State Rights jurist, who had succeeded Webster as President Tyler's Secretary of State, was killed in 1844 on board the battleship Princeton when it exploded. In 1840, the first edition of this piece issued from Petersburg, Virginia. Suspicious of majoritarianism and Jacksonian democracy, Upshur rejected the concept of Natural Law. This work "was reprinted in 1863 as a means of setting forth the political philosophy of the Confederacy." DAB. Howes U24. Swem 5856. II Harv. Law Cat. 827. Bartlett 5485. This edition not in Haynes.
Price: $450.00