THE ADDRESS OF THE MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, Agreed upon at the Numerous Meeting Held after a General Notice at Lancaster on April 3d, 1805. To the Democratic Citizens of Pennsylvania, Recommending a New Candidate for the Office of Governor by [Americana] Steele, John | Pennsylvania General Assembly - 1805

1805. Original Wrappers. Very Good binding. 12mo. 19, [1 (blank)] pp. First edition. As issued, stitched in plain wrapper; a few leaves unopened. Light wear to the covers including some silverfishing to the top inner margin of the rear wrapper and diminishing through the next several leaves; light soiling, but largely a remarkably copy. Deaccessioned as a library duplicate, the only indication being a mid-20th century gift stamp deep in the inner margin of p. 3; contents clean.

An address criticizing incumbent Pennsylvania governor Thomas McKean and recommending Simon Snyder as governor in the 1805 election. While Snyder lost to McKean in a contentious 1805 contest, he would ultimately win in 1808 and serve three terms. The language early in the address is salient: "Principles and not men, were the foundations, on which American independence was established .... Principles and not men have been the objects of contest, ever since, between the several parties which have arisen under our government; but we are now brought to a point, when it is to be determined, by the public suffrage, whether men setting at defiance the wishes of the people and the principles of representative government, shall govern Pennsylvania" p. 3. It is perhaps comforting to realize that some things never change, including campaign rhetoric. Shaw & Shoemaker 9119; Sabin 59839.