The Course of the Hon. John B. Haskin in the XXXVth Congress, its Own Vindication

New York: Sackett & Cobb, 1858. First printing. Paperback. Very good condition. A long campaign piece for John Bussing Haskin (1821 - 1895), who represented New York in the House of Representatives, in the 35th and 36th Congresses (XXXX - 1861). He was noted for his calming address to a gathering of angry working class Irish in the southern part of Westchester County during the Draft Riots of the Civil War, which were spreading north from New York City. Haskin condemned the "unconstitutional Conscription Act", attacked the exemption clause (pay $300 and you're exempt) as favoring the wealthy, and argued for the protection of negroes.

Items of note in this volume include: "Speech in defense of Commodore Paulding". Paulding had been relieved of his command by President Buchanan for the questionable legality of the capture of American nationals in neutral foreign lands (Paulding's Home Squadron Marines had captured William Walker, the American doctor, lawyer, mercenary and nut bar who wanted to create his own military empire in Central America by fomenting insurrection in Nicaragua). Haskin states in this volume, of Paulding, "there are abundant precedents where the American Congress and the American people have sustained an act which was right, morally, though technically and legally wrong". (p9). Also of note, two speeches concerning slavery in the territories: "Speech Against the Admission of Kansas under the Lecompton Constitution" and "Remarks against the "English Kansas Bill", both having to do with the complicated issue of slavery in the proposed state of Kansas (at the time, Kansas Territory).

Haskin was admitted to the bar in 1843, and practiced in New York. He was chairman of the Committee on Expenditures in the Department of the Navy (35th Congress), and served on the Committee on Public Expenditures (36th Congress).

8vo, 133pp. Printed tan paper wrappers, title in black at front wrapper, no title at spine, ad at rear wrapper, which is printed like a broadside, with the following text: "Vote for the Independent People's Candidate for Congress, John B. Haskin". Wrappers the faintest bit marked, the spine ends a bit rubbed. OCLC: 52591914 cites 4 libraries holding a copy: New York Historical Society Lib., the Newberry Lib., Boston Public Lib., Commonwealth Lib., Bureau of State Pha.