Contributed by Maine Historical Society
Description
Roger Sherman (1721-1793) was a delegate from Connecticut to the Continental Congress. Initially a lawyer, Sherman became a long time politician beginning with his election to the Connecticut legislature and Connecticut Superior Court, both in 1766. Following his stint at the Continental Congress, he attended the Confederation Congress in 1783 and was elected mayor of New Haven in 1784. He then served in the U.S. House of Representatives (his position at the time of this letter) and later on the U.S. Senate, the position he held until his death. He is famous for being the only person to sign the four "great state papers:" the Continental Association, Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation and the Constitution.
The letter's recipient, Simeon Baldwin (1761-1851), was the son-in-law of Sherman. He began his political career as a city and state clerk for Connecticut 1790. He then was elected to the U.S. Congress, his position until his appointment as an associate judge of the Superior Court of Connecticut in 1806. Two years later he sat on the Connecticut Supreme Court, a position he held until 1818.
This letter, dated May 6, 1789 in New York, regards the "rates of duties agreed to by Congress." Specifically, Sherman discusses that taxes on imports of rum, wine and molasses are far too low, an opinion that he sees to be fairly common with merchants within the city.
Transcription
About This Item
- Title: Roger Sherman on import taxes, New York, 1789
- Creator: Roger Sherman
- Creation Date: 1789-05-06
- Subject Date: 1789-05-06
-
Locations:
- NY
- Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, PA
- Media: Ink on paper
- Dimensions: 31.9 cm x 20.2 cm
- Local Code: Coll. 420, Box 59/20
- Collection: John S. H. Fogg autograph collection
- Object Type: Text
Cross Reference Searches
Standardized Subject Headings
- Declaration Of Independence. United States--Signers
- Founding Fathers of the United States
- Molasses
- Rum
- Tariff
- Taxation
- United States--History--Revolution, 1775-1783
- United States. Continental Congress
- Wine
People
Other Keywords
For more information about this item, contact:
Maine Historical Society485 Congress Street, Portland, ME 04101
(207) 774-1822 x230
Website
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