Message From Gov. Ritner, Relative To The Pay Of The Troops, &c With Accompanying Documents

Printed by E. Guyer, Harrisburg, PA, 1839; First Edition. 8vo, 16 pgs. A special message from Pennsylvania Governor Joseph Ritner (1780-1869) criticizing the rejection of his petition to the state legislature to provide payment to Pennsylvania militiamen for their service in putting down the recent insurrection at Harrisburg, commonly known as the "Buckshot War," giving a detailed chronology of the events leading up to the incident and explaining his reasoning in taking the actions he did, together with complete copies of the correspondence between state and federal officials involved in the matter –William B. Reed, Martin Van Buren, George Douglas Ramsay, A.J. Pleasonton, and J. B. Pointsett. The conflict began over a question of the legitimacy of the electoral vote count subsequent to the election of 1838. Both political parties in the State Legislature refused to seat certain members from the other side, resulting in a bitter fight and riot as onlookers stormed the chamber threatening the lives of legislators and preventing the ability of the Commonwealth to conduct business. Ritner’s request to President Van Buren for Federal troops to quell the unrest was denied. He then used his gubernatorial authority to call in the State militia, who promptly restored the peace and protected the Capitol. Ritner’s subsequent request to the State Legislature for wages to the militiamen for their service in putting down the rebellion was also denied, on grounds that their use had been both unnecessary and unconstitutional, echoing the reasons earlier cited for the denial of Federal troops by President Van Buren. In this message Ritner defends both the militia and his actions, carefully pointing out the errors in the arguments of his antagonists, and giving a moment to moment account of the events as they actually occurred. A fascinating first hand account of an historic moment in Pennsylvania and American history. Very Good, top edges unopened, verso of back page stained with a number of aged ink blots. Rare.