History of the State of Ohio, Natural and Civil

Ohio: Glezen & Shepard, 1838. Second edition, revised. Hardcover. Very good. One of the earliest histories of Ohio, written by Caleb Atwater (1778 - 1867), who was a representative to the Ohio House & abolitionist; he strongly defended publicly funded education, which should be funded through the sale of state property rather than through taxes. In the dedication, Atwater decries encroachments on freedom of the press: "If this Republic must be destroyed, it will be effected by destroying the liberty of speech and of the press, on some particular subject, at first ... My young friends! we live in an eventful period ... watch the men in power at Washington city ... and resist every encroachment on your rights ..."

In the Appendix, Atwater comments on slavery in the district of Columbia: "... what a strange contrast the proceedings of 1787 present to those of 1837! Then the abolition of slavery in an extensive territory, bordering on the slave holding states, met with no opposition. No fears were then entertained that such an act would endanger the Union ... No; slavery then was considered by all as an evil; now it is pronounced by some a blessing. What a strange perversion!" (p376). Includes the constitution of the state of Ohio in the appendix. 8vo, 407pp, Appendices. Full brown leather, gilt title at black backstrip label. Covers and base of spine a bit rubbed. Internally, scattered foxing to early pages, otherwise bright and clean. OCLC: 476445891. Howes A-377.