Senat

1855 · rif. 55892 — Philadelphia: John M. Butler and Alfred Long 1855. A Grand Image of the Senate in 1850 Featuring Clay Webster and Calhoun A handsome engraving of an outstanding depiction of the United States Senate debating the Compromise of 1850 one of the most consequential debates and legislative acts of the antebellum period. This copy designated as a "proof" in the lower left margin has excellent tonality with rich black and grey hues. Versions published by Butler and Long are known with copyright dates of 1854 and 1855 as here. The print was engraved on steel by R. Whitechurch after the original painting by Peter F. Rothermel 1817–95 an artist known for portraits and historical scenes. This print was apparently issued in four versions: as an artist's proof as here on India paper plain and colored. This copy of the print is enhanced by the presence of a separate "key" to the illustration published by William Smith of Philadelphia and copyrighted 1854. The key identifies the twenty-seven senators shown in the scene as well as Vice President Millard Fillmore presiding as president of the Senate. Also accompanying this copy of the engraving is a pamphlet promoting the print published by Butler and Long in 1859. Apparently the publishers still had copies of the print for sale five years after it was originally produced. This pamphlet contains a frontispiece similar to the William Smith key but without Smith's imprint and information on the titlepage listing prices for the print in its four iterations. The titlepage states that the print would be available to "subscribers only" implying that a new version was in production but it appears that Butler & Long were actually trying only to sell existing stock. The text of the pamphlet excerpts speeches from Senate notables during the debates of 1850. The Compromise of 1850 was a group of five separate laws relating to the spread of slavery in western territories and how those territories might be formed and eventually become states. It included the Fugitive Slave Law and though it was applauded at the time for saving the Union later assessments have condemned the Compromise's half measures and temporary solutions. In the image Henry Clay is shown dramatically commanding the Senate floor his right arm outstretched. Daniel Webster his head resting in his hand is shown to the left of Clay while South Carolina's John C. Calhoun is shown at the far right standing beside the Speaker's chair. A number of other prominent senators are shown including William Seward Thomas Hart Benton Lewis Cass William Gwin Stephen A. Douglas Salmon Chase and Sam Houston of Texas the borders of which would be settled by this debate. The scene - while powerfully composed and rendered - is a bit ahistorical; John C. Calhoun died on March 31 1850 William Gwin did not become a senator until after California statehood in September 1850 and Millard Fillmore became president on July 9 following the death of Zachary Taylor. Fillmore's support however was important in the passage of the Compromise of 1850. Not in Reilly and a striking depiction of an important moment in American political history enhanced by the presence of the "key" identifying the participants and a separately published pamphlet promoting its sale. Pamphlet: Original plain wrappers. Front wrapper detached but present rear wrapper torn. Old dampstain throughout. Good condition only. Key: Mounted on later board. Tanned. Very good. Large engraving: Small closed tears in the lower edge and left edge of the image small area of abrasion on one face in the middle right of the image. Expertly conserved and backed by tissue. Very good. unknown