Rare Book Monthly
Book Catalogue Reviews - October - 2010 Issue
David Lesser Antiquarian Books Offers Rare and Antique Americana
Cane-wielding Congressman Lovell Rousseau.
Item 137 is an Address of Hon. Lovell H. Rousseau to His Constituents, published in 1866. Rousseau was a patriot, brave soldier, and Congressman, who made one really bad mistake during his career. This pamphlet concerns that incident. Rousseau was a Kentucky State Senator at the outbreak of the Civil War. Though Kentucky was a border state, Rousseau was unapologetically pro-Union. He put together a group of volunteers who defended Louisville from the Confederate Army, and later served in several other battles. At the conclusion of the war, he was elected as a U.S. Congressman under the "Unconditional Unionist" label. It was here that he became involved in an ugly debate with Radical Republican Congressman Josiah Grinnell of Iowa. Grinnell said some unpleasant things about Rousseau and Kentucky, where upon the latter demanded an apology. Not getting one, Rousseau responded by beating Grinnell with his rattan cane. He hit him quite forcefully, though Grinnell suffered no serious damage. Nonetheless, Congress censored Rousseau. Rousseau resigned his seat, but then ran for and won the vacant seat he created. It was after this victory that Rousseau wrote this piece, explaining his actions. He describes Grinnell's "atrocious blasphemy," insulting both himself and his constituents, and closes by noting, "And so I RATTANED GRINNELL." $750.
Item 5 is a copy of The American Banner, a political paper from the American Party. The American Party is better known to history as the "Know Nothings" for their silence about the inner workings of their movement. In 1856, they were at their brief peak of power, and managed to get former President Millard Fillmore to head their party as presidential nominee. This pamphlet attacks Fillmore's Democratic opponent, James Buchanan. It attempted to blame him for the infamous "corrupt bargain" in the 1824 election, when Henry Clay threw his support to John Quincy Adams. It enabled Adams to defeat Andrew Jackson. When Clay was appointed Adams' Secretary of State, Jackson was convinced it was pay-off. The incident shadowed Clay through the rest of his political career, perhaps instrumental in preventing his ever reaching the presidency despite numerous attempts. The Know Nothings must have felt they could use it to like ends against Buchanan, but the incident was now over three decades in the past, and Buchanan a bit player at the time. It didn't work. Buchanan won. $450.
David M. Lesser Fine Antiquarian Books may be reached at 203-389-8111 or dmlesser@lesserbooks.com. Their website is www.lesserbooks.com.
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