John P. Hale. The Champion of Liberty and Free Soil. From a Daguerreotype by Paige & Beach, Washington, D.C.
New York; Hartford, Ct: Kelloggs & Comstock, 1852. Scarce Free Soil Party campaign print of the candidate John P. Hale (1806 – 1873) the first US senator to openly oppose slavery. The Free Soilers were a single issue party opposed to the expansion of slavery into the western states; Hale was their presidential nominee in 1852. Hale served in the US House of Representatives from 1843 - 1845 and in the Senate (1847 - 1853 and 1855 -1865), and later served as Ambassador to Spain.
Bizarrely, Hale's daughter Lucy became engaged to John Wilkes Booth, Lincoln's murderer. Booth had a picture of Lucy Hale (and other women) in his possession when he was killed by Federal troops. Lucy Hale apparently knew nothing of Booth's hatred of Lincoln, nor of his plan to kidnap the president. When Lincoln died Lucy wrote to Booth's brother describing her sorrow, and her father wrote newspaper notices denying any connection between his daughter and Booth.
Hand colored lithograph showing Hale seated at desk, three quarter view, dressed in a black jacket and cravat, with a vivid green curtain behind. Evenly toned, 2 closed tears both about an inch into the plate mark. 10 x 14" Good + overall. Item #21369
Price: $350.00