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[DAILY NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER].
Bound Volume, Daily National Intelligencer, Washington, D.C., January 1 to December 31, 1823. Approximately 312 issues, including one 4 pp. The only issues lacking are December 2 and December 3 (the days pertaining to the Monroe Doctrine).
Inventory #22153.02
Price: $4,400
Issues of Note:
January 7, 1823, full text of John Quincy Adams’ Address to Freeholders of Virginia, Refuting charges made against him by General Alexander Smith
January 14, 1823, Peace Treaty Between Russia, Britain, and the United States. A Proclamation by the President “Whereas a convention between the United States and His Britannic Majesty was concluded and signed…under the mediation of the Emperor of all the Russias…by the respective plenipotentiaries of the three powers…”
January 28, 1823, “Andrew Jackson of Tennessee, [Appointed by the President] to be Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to…Mexico…”
January 29, 1823, “The Legislature of Illinois have nominated Henry Clay as a candidate for the Presidency of the United States…”
January 30, 1823, Massachusetts has nominated John Quincy Adams for the Presidency of the United States “Resolved…That we hold in the highest respect the uniform integrity of his public and private character: that we consider his exalted talents, his various eminent services, his political experience, and his profound knowledge of the great interests of the nation, as pledges of the ability with which, as the Chief Magistrate of the American people, he would promote their prosperity and honor”
February 1, 1823 “Mr. Johnson of Kentucky delivered the following remarks on the bill for abolishing Imprisonment for Debt”
February 20, 1823, Debate in Senate on Abolishment of Imprisonment for Debt
March 4, 1823, Debate on the Slave Trade in the House of Representatives
March 24, 1823, Letter by Andrew Jackson on the subject of the next Presidential election and his nomination. “My undeviating rule of conduct though life, and which I have and ever shall deem as congenial with the true republican principles of our government, has been neither to seek or decline public invitations to office. For the services which I have rendered, and which have, it is hoped, proved in a degree beneficial to my country, I have nothing to ask. They are richly repaid with the confidence and good opinion of the virtuous and well-deserving part of the community. I have only essayed to discharge a debt which every man owes his country when her rights are invaded; and if twelve years’ exposure to fatigue and numerous privations can warrant the assertion, I may venture to assert, that my portion of public service has been performed; and that with this impression, I have retired from the busy scenes of public life, with a desire to be a spectator merely of passing events. The office of Chief Magistrate of the Union, is one of great responsibility. As it should not be sought by any individual of the republic, so it cannot, with propriety, be declined, when offered by those who have the power of selection. It is interesting to the American people alone, and in the election, they should exercise their free and unbiased judgement. It was with these impressions, I presume, and without any consultation with me, that the members of the Legislature of the State of Tennessee, as an additional testimony of their confidence in me, thought proper to present my name to the American community. My political creed prompts me to leave the affair uninfluenced by any expression on my part, and to the free will of those who have alone the right to decide.”
May 30, 1823, reports on the First Intersectional Horse Race, which took place on May 27, 1823. Eclipse represented the North and Henry represented the South. “The third heat won also by eclipse by four lengths- and of course he took the purse of 40,000 dollars. It was a tight race, certainly, and must have afforded the highest degree of interest to those who witnessed it.”
June 27, 1823, Extract of Letter from Andrew Jackson “explaining the reason why he declined accepting the Mission to Mexico…in the present revolutionary state of Mexico, the appearance of an American Minister at that court, with credentials to the tyrant Iturbide, would carry with it to the people of that country, the appearance, that the United States approved his course: would thereby strengthen the tyrant- and enable him the more firmly to rivet the chains of despotism on the Mexican people, who of right ought to be free. The future peace and security of the United States materially depends on the Mexicans establishing a government upon the representative system. These views induce me to decline the acceptance, determined never to permit pecuniary or other considerations, to entice me into a measure, where the cause of suffering humanity could not be relived; and where there was no prospect of my rendering any service to my own country”
July 22, 1823, News of Death of Peter Boylston Adams, Brother of John Adams
August 9, 1823, “The rumor is revived, that the Marquis La Fayette,…contemplates leaving France in a few months, with the intention of visiting the United States…”
Historical Background
The Daily National Intelligencer was founded as the National Intelligencer and Washington Advertiser by Samuel Harrison Smith in 1800. The paper became the tri-weekly National Intelligencer in 1810 and became the Daily in 1813. In its early years, it served as the voice of the Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, and J. Q. Adams administrations. Its editors, Joseph Gales, Jr., and William W. Seaton, were well known and associated with the National Intelligencer from 1813 until its demise in 1869. The Intelligencer served as the voice of the federal government until the election of Andrew Jackson, when it switched to the Whig party. The Intelligencer was primarily a political newspaper, though it did move sometimes between being “friendly” to administrations and taking a more neutral approach. Like most political newspapers in the partisan press period, the Intelligencer always relied heavily on lucrative Congressional printing contracts for its financial support. The paper was noted for its full coverage of Congress and other government information, including proclamations, notices and advertisements. Seaton and Gales employed shorthand reporters, including themselves occasionally, to take down verbatim reports of Congressional debates and speeches. Because of its depth of political coverage, the Intelligencer was one of the more popular exchange newspapers during the early part of the 19th century. Many other newspapers took their coverage of national politics and government directly from the Intelligencer.
Condition
Original marbleized paper covers and leather spine. Spine in poor condition, separated from many of the bound issues. “Com Ins Co, Salem, Mas” written in ink on the first page of each issue. Bookplates of the Essex Institute on inside of front cover.
Sources
Eighteenth Century Newspapers at the Library of Congress
“National Intelligencer, and Washington Advertiser,” http://www.loc.gov/rr/news/18th/72.html
“National Intelligencer,” http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83026171/
“Daily National Intelligencer,” http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83026172/
http://infotrac.galegroup.com/itw/infomark/1/1/1/purl=rc11_NCNP_2_jn_%22National%20Intelligencer%20%28Washington,%20DC%29%22_AND_rf_Master%20Publication%20Metadata%20Record_AND
