ABOLITIONIST JAMES G. BIRNEY AND THE "GARLAND FORGERY
JAMES G. BIRNEY (1792-1857) American abolitionist and politician, launched the Cincinnati anti-slavery newspaper "The Philanthropist" in 1836, twice a presidential candidate for the anti-slavery Liberty Party. He also used his legal talents to defend blacks and fugitive slaves. Scarce, fine content A.L.S., 2pp. 4to. with integral address leaf, Cleveland, May 28, 1845 to A. W. McCoy, Esq. in Chillicothe, Ohio. The "Garland Forgery" was a letter concocted by the Whigs in central Michigan, intended to discredit Birney in his attempt at the presidency. Written in Birney's name to a man named "Garland", the false "Birney" solicited the Democratic nomination to the state legislature, declared his adherence the Democratic Party, and announced his intention to run against Henry Clay. The letter was widely distributed and published, and as a result, Birney's support was diminished by fifty percent. Here, Birney seeks to identify the culprits: "...you will take pleasure in communicating any facts...bringing to light the authors of the 'Garland Forgery'...You have stated...that a sealed package, supposed to contain copies of the Garland Forgery, was placed in your hands by some one in Detroit, to be put into the Post office...for the Editor or Editors of the Ohio State Journal...communicate to me the name of that individual...[or] a description of his person, age, dress, etc...to expose the conspirators in that flagitious transaction...". Fine condition.