Robert Goodloe Harper papers, 1788-1812.

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Harper, Robert Goodloe, 1765-1825. Robert Goodloe Harper papers, 1788-1812.

Robert Goodloe Harper papers, 1788-1812.

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/713368047

Chiefly correspondence re his legal practice, business interests, and national news and politics. Two letters, 1791, document the ill-fated South Carolina Yazoo Company, one of the original three companies formed to develop Georgia's western lands. Formed in 1789, the company had four charter members-Thomas Washington (alias Walsh) of Georgia, Alexander Moultrie, Isaac Huger, and William Clay Snipes. Shares of the company were limited to twenty; they could be subdivided, but to have a seat and vote at the company's meetings, a member had to own one full share. Letter, 15 Jan. 1791, from Harper to Gen. Mordecai Gist reporting that the board had voted to admit him as a member. Gist had sent word by Snipes that he intended to take one full share in the Yazoo purchase. In the end, the company's plans failed; it forfeited its claim to the land when it failed to comply with the 1789 Georgia statute regulating the purchase. By that time, the partners had ostracized Washington for enacting "a most infamous and extensive scheme of villainy, the forging of public securities to a very large amount" (the authorities hanged him in Charleston for counterfeiting state indents). Later, the S.C. Senate impeached and convicted Attorney General Alexander Moultrie for diverting genuine state indents into the company's finances. Letter, 16 Mar. 1793 to J[ohn] E[wing] Colhoun re a case in Cambridge Court [Edgefield County, S.C.?]; letter, 26 Mar. 1799 (Baltimore), to Secretary of War [James McHenry] expressing concern over an expected insurrection: "Their leaders are committed to the full length of Treason," and advising that McHenry send a large body of troops to deal with the situation [presumed to be the rebellion led by Pennsylvania auctioneer John Fries (ca. 1750-1818) in his protest against a tax on real estate]. Document, 19 July 1793 (Orangeburg District, S.C.), re Harper's appointment as lawyer for Jacob Rumph in sale of certain lands on Edisto River and transfer of land to John Hall, including certificate no extant mortgages on said land letter, 29 July 1799 (Baltimore, Md.) to [James McHenry], Secretary of War, announcing opening of his law office in Baltimore but assuring McHenry that he stands ready to return to military service if the need should arise, noting a recent letter from Gen'l [Charles Cotesworth] Pinckney, expressing his desire for a commission in case of an increase in hostilities during the quasi-war between the U.S. and France, although world events made that appear less likely: "The difficulty... will in all probability be removed by Prince Charles and Count Suwaroff [i.e. Prince Charles de Ligne and Alexander Suvorov].... What a pity that so many Suwaroffs and Bonapartes in embryo, should be chilled into mere lawyers Planters & merchants by the cold breath of Peace!" Letter, 8 Dec. 1800, to Jacob Read (Washington, D.C.), explaining his delay in returning to Washington and requesting information on votes from S.C. and Rhode Island; letter, 18 July 1807 (Baltimore, Md.) to William Sullivan (Boston), informing him of closing of a legal case, sending his remittance, and explaining the financial settlement; letter, 13 Aug. 1807 advising to bring suit in a matter involving a ship and cargo; letter, 8 June 1812, receipt for fee in a case before the U.S. Supreme Court.

11 items.

University of South Carolina, System Library Service, University Libraries