THE VALIANT MAN": A Discourse on the Death of Hon. Samuel Wilkeson of Buffalo; including "The Slavery Question and Colonization" (pp. 45-6)

Buffalo: Steam Press of Jewett, Thomas & Co., 1848. First edition. Lord's tribute to the judge, NY state senator, and mayor of Buffalo, Samuel Wilkeson (1781 - 1848), who served, beginning in 1838, as general agent of the American Colonization Society. An organization established to encourage and support the "migration" of free African Americans to what would become known as Liberia. Lord's short essay following the discourse, "The Slavery Question and Colonization," addresses Wilkeson's views on the subject as well as Lord's own. It is a precursor of sorts to his controversial 1851 sermon, "The Higher Law in Its Application to the Fugitive Slave Bill: A Sermon on the Duties Men Owe to God and to Governments." There is also, in a footnote running from pp. 27 - 32, extracts from Lord's funeral sermon for Wilkeson's third wife, Mary Peters Wilkeson. The former headmistress had passed away just a few months before, and Lord makes it clear he includes the material because "it was the design of Judge Wilkeson to have had the whole sermon published." (Her recently composed "Hymn of Praise" appears in the footnote to page 31 - so we have, if not her date of birth nor of death, at least some published record of her words.) 8vo pale beige printed paperwraps with unprinted spine, 46 pp, a few of which are unopened. Few small tears, minor soiling and wear. Rare.