Lot 403

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Description:

WASHINGTON AND CONGRESS EMBARGO ALL FOREIGN VESSELS, AND PAY LAFAYETTE FOR HIS MILITARY SERVICE
Scarce broadside, 1p. sm. folio, Philadelphia, [Apr. 18, 1794], signed in type by George Washington as President, John Adams as Vice President and Frederick A. Muhlenberg as Speaker of the House, a Resolution of Congress: "...That an Embargo be laid on all ships and vessels in the ports of the United States, whether already cleared out, or not, bound to any foreign port or place, for the term of thirty days...except ships or vessels under the immediate direction of the President of the United States...". When war broke out between Great Britain and revolutionary France in 1793, Madison and Jefferson saw a chance to use retaliatory economic sanctions against Britain, and introduced discriminatory duties against England in the House. The British soon seized almost 250 American vessels trading the West Indies, and in March, 1794 Congress reacted by passing a resolution laying a hostile embargo for thirty days. By embargoing all ships, foreign and domestic, in American harbors, the measure would ostensibly affect all nations alike, thus avoiding a direct challenge to Great Britain and possibly provoking war. A second published act orders that the Marquis de Lafayette be given the sum of $24,424 "...being the amount of pay and emoluments of a major general during the time he was in the service of the United States...". Fine condition.

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May 13, 2009 10:00 AM EDT
Stamford, CT, US

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