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1812, Publication: Federalist Party Organization

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1812 Federalist Party Organization 1st Edition Publication

1812, Publication with an Integral Membership Certificate titled: "The Text-Book of the George Washington Benevolent Society Containing a Biography and Character of George Washington, His Farewell Address to the People of the United States and the Federal Constitution with the Amendments.", Very Fine.
This is an original, 1812 dated, Federalist Party Organization Publication with an Integral Membership Certificate, Concord (NH), published by George Hough for the Washington Benevolent Society, 1st Edition. This fascinating piece of early Political Americana measures 5.25 x 3" and contains 106 pages. It includes a wonderful frontis Portrait of George Washington, along with a Partially-printed and fully completed in manuscript, Membership Certificate in the, "Danbury, New Hampshire" chapter. The membership certificate is for Samuel Cliefford, dated December 22, 1812, and is signed by John Searle, president and John Tolford, secretary. This volume is bound in its original quarter leather and marble boards, which are worn but intact, tight and still quite attractive. The interior pages are complete and tight with some typical expected age, soiling and water stains. A historic and rare, 1812 Presidential Election, Federalist Party Organization and George Washington related publication.

The Washington Benevolent Society was a Federalist Political Club that worked (often in secret) for the election of the Federalist Presidential candidates in the elections of 1808, 1812 and 1816. The Washington Benevolent Societies were in fact activist Federalist political groups who traded heavily on their Washington association; this publication can actually be viewed as a campaign item from the presidential election year of 1812. The Washington Benevolent Societies existed publicly as a humanitarian organization to educate underprivileged young boys. In reality, it was led by prominent Federalists and provided money and pamphlets to organize Federalists across the young Republic. While fraternal organizations had first began under the Jeffersonians (with the most popular and effective being the Tammany Society), in 1800 a group of Federalists in Alexandria started the society known as the Washington Society of Alexandria. From this organization the Washington Benevolent Society was born, an organization that eventually spread across Maryland and to other States. An early experiment in party organization, its main weakness lay in its secretiveness, which bespoke the tremendous distrust and paranoia gripping the public sphere. With the establishment of these clubs, Federalists slowly began adopting tactics associated with Jeffersonian electioneering techniques. Public meetings, barbecues, and political holidays began to assume more importance. As well, they began emphasizing the need for supporters to get out and vote. Part of this push caused them to provide horses and carriages for the public. They deliberately tried to create popular oriented vote-seeking political organizations which might defeat Jefferson with his own weapons. The younger Federalists successfully established the Washington Benevolent Society in at least ten states.

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