AN EXPOSITION OF THE PRINCIPLES AND VIEWS OF THE MIDDLING INTEREST, IN THE CITY OF BOSTON.
Boston: May, 1822. 8pp, untrimmed and widely margined [with some chipping at the fore-edge]. Partly uncut, title leaf loose. Good+. The signature 'Rantoul' is written at the blank upper margin of title page.
An expression of Boston's revolt against domination by the Federalist Central Committee, which opposed electoral reforms and thwarted efforts to end imprisonment for debt. The Middling Interest, which also opposed the entrenched and self-serving Republicans, sought election by ward of State and Federal representatives. The Middling Interest sought, on behalf of the emerging middle class, the power and recognition which both of Boston's political parties had denied them. "We hold that rich men acquire no political influence justly by their wealth alone." No man "can or ought to have influence on any other qualifications than the soundness of his judgment, the fairness of his mind, and his ability to be useful."
FIRST EDITION. AI 8654 [11]. Item #25245
Price: $250.00