“As I would not be a slave, so I would not be a master”
Typed Letter, signed (“Harold H, Burton”) to Harry Barnard of the Altgeld Centenary Committee of Illinois in Chicago, regarding the selection of Justice William O. Douglas as guest speaker at the public dinner in Altgeld’s honor.
Washington, D.C: December 21, 1947.
Price: $500.00
About the item
One page, on letterhead of the Supreme Court of the United States. 4to. “As I would not be a slave, so I would not be a master”. Docketed in pencil. Fine, in navy custom cloth folder.
Item #247225
“… I am glad to know that Mr. Justice William O. Douglas of this Court will speak at the public dinner to be held in observance of the 100th Anniversary of the birth of John Peter Altgeld, the late Governor of Illinois, and a leadiing apostle of the Bill of Rights. He not only wished to be free himself, but wished that others share his freedom. Evidently he subscribed to Lincoln’s definition of democracy — ‘As I would not be a slave, so I would not be a master [underscored] …”.
