Discussing the limits of Congressional power in an autograph letter to Nathan Read of Belfast Maine signed by O'Brien February 22 1828 at Washington D.C.
rif. 701534to. 4-pages one sheet of American laid paper folded. Approximately 750 words in ink. Folded for mailing and accompanied by its original franked envelope bearing a Washington cancellation stamp and O'Brien's red wax seal broken. Accompanied by Read's retained copies of two letters he wrote to O'Brien the first prompting O'Brien's response here the second Read's response to O'Brien's comments Feb. 7 and March 13 1828; folio four pages total approximately 1000 words each with editing and passages crossed through approximately 1250 words total. Read 1759-1859 served in Congress from Massachusetts 1800-1803 and was a well-regarded judge farmer and inventor during his years in Belfast Maine 1807-1849. Very good. For the 3 letters and envelope Responding to a recent letter from Read 1759-1849; U.S. House of Representatives 1800-1803 and apparently differing from his viewpoint O'Brien writes primarily of dubious Constitutional grounds for congressional action on internal improvements and on education seeing both as doomed to inequity inefficiency and excessive cost: "I am not for loading the national government with subjects that can be better & more economically performed by the constituent parts of the Union." As evidence he cites an example: that of John C. Calhoun then Vice-President who had earlier let the controversial "Rip Rap Contract" as Secretary of War and was accused of sharing in profits from it. The letter addresses issues of the day summarizes a portion of its author's philosophy of government and echoes arguments continued through every American era. Read's first letter shows an impatience with the state of affairs: "But for the virulence of party spirit excited and kept alive by ambitious and designing men we should be not only a prosperous but very happy people . as my hopes for the preservation of the Union for any great length of time principally rest on the prospect of a more general diffusion of knowledge among the people & a consequent improvement in their manners & morals . this in my humble opinion can only be done efficiently by a liberal provision made by the national government for the suitable education of youth in every section of the Union." Read responds to O'Brien's reply in part: "Whereas the public lands in the course of a few years if not appropriated to some objects entirely national & universally satisfactory will be a bone of contention & may operate as a bounty at some public expense to the states adjacent to them to sever the Union. unknown
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