Speech of Joshua R. Giddings on the bill providing for the civil and diplomatic expenses of Government for the year 1840

This First Edition copy of the Speech of Joshua R. Giddings, of Ohio. In answer to Mr. Duncan, on the bill providing for the civil and diplomatic expenses of Government for the year 1840. - Delivered in the House of Representatives, April 11, 1840 was presented as part of the House discussion on the spending bill. Mr. Giddings states, in his speech, that "...I understood him (Mr. Duncan) to say, in substance, that he thought it ungenerous for the party with whom I have the honor to act to complain of the great amount of money expended in the support of Government, unless we could specify the particular items of extravagance...This request, I think, is reasonable...And now, Mr. Chairman, I will proceed with as much brevity as possible to notice some of the items of this bill which I think extravagant, and much higher in amount than is necessary..."

The speech is contained in a 16 page, double-column booklet, without covers, that measures approximately 5 ½ x 8 ½ inches. The pages are tanned, with some mild foxing, but the text is clear and easily read. The overall condition of the item is good.

The illustration accompanying this description shows the first page of the booklet.

Joshua Reed Giddings (October 6, 1795 – May 27, 1864) was an American statesman and a prominent opponent of slavery. He represented Ohio in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1838-59. He was at first a member of the Whig Party and was later a Republican. [Wikipedia]