Campaign broadside, written on behalf of George M. Steinman, Democratic candidate for Congress opposing Thaddeus Stevens
Description
Reproduction of an [1862] campaign broadside. "To the people of Lancaster County! A few facts in the political history of Thaddeus Stevens." Written on behalf of George M. Steinman, Democratic candidate for Congress opposing Thaddeus Stevens. An 1843 letter written by Henry Clay to Rev. Colton, in which he expresses opposition to Abolition and supports States rights regarding the institution of slavery, is added at the bottom of the broadside.
"The people of Lancaster County have the case fairly stated, and it will be for them to determine at the ballot box, whether they will be any longer willing to basely bow the knee to the dark spirit of Abolitionism, which broods over our once happy country like a death pall, and saddle themselves and their posterity with a grievous burthen of debt to free and support in idleness four millions of negroes; or whether, by electing George M. Steinman, a pure and honest man, and a true patriot, they will cling to the Constitution and the Union of our fathers, as 'the shipwrecked mariner clings to the last plank, when night and the tempest close around him,' to use the language of the great Webster, and drive the foul spirits of disunion--Abolitionism and secession--'to the vile depths from which they sprung, unwept, unhonored, and unsung.'"
Reproduction on vinyl from the original at Yale University, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library (Folio BrSides Cb4A 1862).
Preferred Citation: Title or description of item, date (day, month, year), Thaddeus Stevens Collection (MG0115), Part 1, Folder # or Object ID, LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. URL if applicable. Date accessed (day, month, year).
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Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Other Numbers
MG-115, Part 1
Other Number
MG-115, Part 1, Oversized Box 1, Oversized Folder 2
Classification
MG0115
Description Level
Item
Custodial History
Added to database 21 February 2024.
Digitization of this document was funded by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, PHMC Appl ID # 202010016624, 2020-2023.
Broadside commercially printed on wove paper in Pa. German script. Geometric border surrounds text block of 4 long paragraphs. Modern frame.
Title is "Kraftiges Gebet, / Wodurch man sich vor Kugel und Degen, vor sichtbarlichen und un- / sichtbarlichen Feinden, so wie vor allem moglichen / Uebel beschutzen und bewahren konne."
Place of origin is unknown.
Seller's translation: "A Powerful Prayer whereby one can protect himself from shot and sword, of a visible or invisible enemy, just as from all other possible wounds that one need protect against."
Rows of letters at bottom with more text with a title "Vor die fallende Sucht, oder Gicht," which seems to mean "For those who've come down with an ailment (addiction?), or gout."
Within a twisted foliate border is a central block depicting Adam & Eve flanking a tree with a serpent wound around the trunk offering Eve an apple. This is an engraving executed by Gabriel Miesse of Reading; his name appears at lower right followed by "sc" for "sculpsit", indicating the engraver. Two columns of verse flank the central block, telling the story of "the Fall" in conversational form. At top of broadside is the title in German: "Adam und Eva im Paradies." A subtitle reads: "Mel. Herzlich thut mich Verlangen, etc."
At bottom is: "Gedruckt in der Druckerey des Adlers von H.W. Villee, Lancaster, Pa. allwo alle Sorten Bilder, Bucher,/ Schriebmaterialien und Arzneyen zu haben find." This indicates the broadside was printed in the Lancaster Eagle's printshop (a newspaper started by Villee and Jacob Baab on Oct. 26, 1826). Villee was also selling pictures, books, stationery and even medicines out of his shop on N. Queen St.
See biographical info about Villee from Klaus Stopp's book in this file. He was born in France, served as a captain under Napolean, had to leave France in 1815 and ended up in America in 1820. Villee entered the printing business by working at "the Eagle," a newspaper in Reading. Villee was not successful as a printer in Lancaster, and he left sometime in 1832 or soon after, going to places like Lewisburg, Sunbury and Milton. After moving to Northumberland Co. and becoming a teacher, he finally died in 1842.
The Earnests note that Adam & Eve were popular fraktur subjects, especially among German-language printers of SE PA. They note that there are only about a half dozen Adam & Eve broadsides by Villee known.
Exhibited in Fraktur Exhibit in Masonic Lodge circa 2004 through 2007 (removed spring 2008).
See also P.01.60.1 and P04.48 for examples of a Heaven & Hell broadside by Villee.
North Queen St., Lancaster (printer); Reading, PA (engraver). Villee, Herman W., printer; Gabriel Miesse, engraver; unknown colorist
Paper darkened and soiled overall, wrinkled with fold lines and rough-edged with minor tears and folds. Stains scattered over surface with darkest stains within right text above center. Small hole at center of top foliate border.
Frame is homemade of stained and varnished tiger maple. Acidic cardboard backboard replaced with acid free matboard.
Object ID
P.04.48.1
Credit
Acquired through the generosity of Irene N. Walsh, Heritage Center Collection
Includes a 6-county area (Dauphin, Lebanon, Berks,York, Lancaster & Chester) with small black squares marking locations of banks. Around periphery are 6 drawings, one from each county: State capitol bldg., Cornwall Furnace, Boone Homestead, Valley Forge Arch, Rock Ford Plantation and Gold Plough Tavern & General Gates House.
