Anon

Anon — marelibri

THE OLIVE BRANCH--PEACE AND UNION. HOW WE SHALL OBTAIN THEM caption title

1863rif. 66742New York NY: P.W. Derham Printer and Stationer 15 Nassua Street Corner of Pine 1863. Folio broadside 48 x 29.5 cm. text in two columns beneath the title in display type. Old folds with slight damage; some foxing. Professionally rebacked. This broadside printed ca. 1863-4 offers a political analysis of the options for reconciliation with the Confederacy and a denunciation of the statements of Gov. Horatio Seymour. Printed by P.W. Derham a stationer from New York whose other surviving works include an 1862-4 broadside reprint of a pre-secession speech by Alexander H. Stephens Vice President of the Confederacy in which Stephens argues for preserving the Union Hummel 542: notes this is a "forged speech for the political campaign; 1864". The author of the broadside presents four scenarios for reconciliation with the South and examines the Confederate response to each by quoting several Southern newspapers including the Richmond Dispatch the Atlanta Intelligencer the Richmond Enquirer and the Charleston Mercury among others. The author proposes several solutions including applying for foreign intervention surrendering and appealing to the South to rejoin the Union and recognizing the independence of the Confederacy though invariably Confederate viewpoints making each option impossible are presented. For example the author proposes to "Hold out the olive branch confess our error in having resented the bombardment of Fort Sumter propose Peace and Union and with becoming dignity await the answer which the South cannot fail to give its faithful ally the Democratic Party" but then notes "that answer we have already." The author goes on to provide several quotes in which zealous Southern newspaper writers declare that they can never rejoin the Union again under any circumstances. The author also quotes several statements from Horatio Seymour who was running for re-election as governor of the state of New York implying he was a Southern sympathizer. Ultimately the author of the broadside in satirical style is unable to reach any convincing conclusion for the best method of attaining "Peace and Union" but represents an early rejection of the Peace Democrat or Copperhead positions which were to become so frequent 1862-64. Two listings found on OCLC: Lib. of Congress; NY Hist. Society. The New York Historical Society notes that the printer P.W. Derham was listed in New York City directories as at this address from 1863-1877 and that this broadside's purpose was "opposing the Democratic Party platform and the reelection of New York Democratic governor Horatio Seymour." Seymour 1810-1886 who had been elected governor of New York in 1852 and again in 1862 was running for re-election in 1864. He supported the Crittenden Compromise of 1860 in an effort to keep the South from seceding but supported the Civil War once it commenced. According to his biography in the DAB he continued to oppose some of Pres. Lincoln's policies during the war and "insisted that the extra-constitutional powers assumed by the Lincoln administration were the most serious problem arising from the Civil War." For his actions in re-establishing order after the New York Draft Riots Horace Greeley characterized Seymour as a temporizing "Copperhead." Seymour lost his bid for re-election. P.W. Derham, Printer and Stationer, 15 Nassua Street, Corner of Pine unknown books