January 22, 1862

Buntly, G.W., fl. 1862-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Buntly

Wants his brother and lawyers to collect money owed to him. Instructs William to send word about a court case in which the Buntly family is currently involved, mentioning that he thinks best that the case be tried although he entrusts William with the particulars while he is away at war.

GLC04190.02

1828

Livingston, Edward, 1764-1836

Book

Title: A system of penal law for the United States of America ...

Title continues, "consisting of a Code of crimes and punishments; a Code of procedure in criminal cases; a Code of prison discipline; and a Book of definitions. Prepared and presented to the House of Representatives of the United States, by Edward Livingston." Printed by Gales & Seaton, Washington. Printed by order of the House of Representatives. First edition. Important legal work for the development of penal reform. Each section is paginated separately.

GLC04165

March 1842

King, Samuel Ward, 1786-1851

Broadside

Title: [A proclamation by Samuel Ward King]

Contains a brief introduction by King as Governor, Captain-General and Commander-in-Chief of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. Includes a reprinted letter by President John Tyler stating that he cannot get involved (by raising a militia) with rising tensions in Rhode Island unless there is an actual insurrection. Also includes a reprinted letter from John Whipple discussing the People's Constitution (Dorr's constitution) and the "legal constitution" of Rhode Island.

GLC04161

1834

Dorr, Thomas Wilson, 1805-1854

Pamphlet signed

Title: [An address to the people of Rhode Island...]

Title continues: "from the Convention assembled at Providence, on the 22d day of February, and again on the 12th day of March, 1834, to promote the establishment of a State Constitution." First and only edition, printed by Cranston & Hammond, with manuscript corrections in Dorr's hand. Inscribed to by Dorr to Reverend C. W. Upham.

GLC04162

1789

Kirby, Ephraim, ?-1804

Book

Title: Reports of cases adjudged in the Superior Court of the state of Connecticut..

First published law reports for Connecticut and the second for the United States. The preface demonstrates the importance of a reporting system to the development of American law. References: Evans 21914, Wallace, "Reports" p. 751.

GLC04164

1796

Pennsylvania

Book

Title: A Compilation of the laws of the state of Pennsylvania relative to the poor...

Printed by Zachariah Poulson. Printed with Ordinances for the poor. Sabin 60002, Evans 30277. Bookplate of Robert C. Bouck on front pastedown.

GLC04167

1 November 1836

Jackson, Andrew, 1767-1845

Document signed

Title: [Pardon of Richard W. Davis for cruelly and inhumanly beating a Negro in Georgetown].

Countersigned by Acting Secretary of State Asbury Dinkins. Pardoned by Jackson after serving his one-month prison sentence because Davis was unable to pay a fine of $10 and court costs, and on the recommendation of the judge and the district attorney that he was a fit subject for clemency.

GLC04211

3 March 1791

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Document signed

Title: [Act of Congress for management of district jails]

Printed document signed by Jefferson as Secretary of State. Signed in type by Frederick Augustus Muhlenberg as Speaker of the House of Representatives, John Adams as Vice-President of the United States and President of the Senate, and approved by George Washington as President. Details the results of the third session of Congress held in Philadelphia 6 December 1790. Resolves that each district should have a place and provisions to keep prisoners committed under the authority of the United States. The United States Treasury will pay the reasonable expenses of each district. See also GLC…

GLC04259

1744

Horsmanden, Daniel, 1694-1778

Book

Title: A Journal of the proceedings in the detection of the conspiracy [New York slaves]

Full title: "A Journal of the Proceedings in the Detection of the Conspiracy formed by some White People in conjunction with Negro and other Slaves, for burning the City of New-York in America, and murdering the Inhabitants." Published in New York by James Parker. Howes H652, Sabin 33058. Horsmanden presided over the trial and later served on New York's Supreme Court. Fullest account of the so-called Negro Plot of 1741, based on depositions. Reprinted in 1971 by Beacon (see GLC 4205.02)

GLC04205.01

1828

Pamphlet

Title: Ley de Colonizacion... [law opening Texas to American colonization] [In Spanish]

Printed by Samuel Bangs. First printing. References: Streeter 727; Streeter Sale 297.

GLC04247

1834

Pamphlet

Title: Plan para el mejor arreglo de...justicia en Texas...[In Spanish & English]

Full title: Plan para el mejor arreglo de la administracion de justicia en Texas." "Plan for the better administration of Justice in Texas." English and Spanish in parallel columns. First printing. References: Bauer 4665; Eberstadt 162: 881; Streeter 805.

GLC04248

22 June 1657

Gookin, Daniel, fl. 1657

Autograph document signed

Title: Summons for Eliz. Ball.

Written by Gookin as a jurist in the Court of Assistants. Addressed to the Constable of Watertown, Massachusetts. Ball was accused of breach of the peace and ordered to appear at court in Charlestown, Massachusetts. Ball, wife of settler John Ball, was noted as being insane by 1660.

GLC04261

14 June 1830

Jackson, Andrew, 1767-1845

Document signed

Title: [Remitture of the forfeiture of the sloop Nun to master Winthop S. Baker, whose ship was siezed for importing slaves].

Countersigned by Secretary of State Martin Van Buren. The sloop Nun was seized in the territory of Florida. Jackson, in consideration of the premises, "divers other good and sufficient reasons," and on payment of costs, orders remission of the vessel and further orders that a "nolle proseque" be entered in all suits against her.

GLC04469

9 May 1865

Johnson, Andrew, 1808-1875

Document signed

Title: [Pardon of Mary Catharine Berry by Andrew Johnson]

She was convicted of larceny, and sentenced to one year. She was later pardoned because she was young at the time she committed the crime. (c/s W. Hunter)

GLC04474

5 November 1866

Johnson, Andrew, 1808-1875

Document signed

Title: [Presidential pardon of William Dulaney, convicted of larceny].

Dulaney, was convicted of larceny and sentenced to serve two years in imprisonment. He was later pardoned after serving almost a year of his prison term for good behavior and by recommendation of a number of citizens. Countersigned by acting Secretary of State William Hunter.

GLC04475

8 March 1782.

Matlack, Timothy, fl. 1782

Autograph document signed

Title: [Request of the Supreme Executive Council to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court for clarification of a Constitutional point].

Requests the state Supreme Court for an interpretation of the twentieth section of the Constitution of the State of Pennsylvania. Written as Secretary of the Supreme Executive Council of the State of Pennsylvania.

GLC04465

1913

Painting

Title: Preliminary sketch for portrait of Cephas Brainerd to Eveline Brainerd

Bust portrait of Brainerd as a middle aged man with gray hair, wearing a suit. On unstretched canvas. Artist's signature is illegible.

GLC04471.12

4 November 1866

McLaws, Lafayette, 1821-1897

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Gov. Charles J. Jenkins

Notifying Governor Jenkins of President Johnson's full pardon he granted the ex-Confederate General Lafayette McLaws and that he may resume the duties of court clerk in Richmond County.

GLC04479

6 August 1851

Buchanan, James, 1791-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to L. Harper

Written from Buchanan's estate, Wheatland. Discusses a recent trip to a General Bowman's home in Bedford Springs, Pennsylvania, where he and other guests held "meetings... which were not confined to Democrats." Referring to an upcoming judicial election, expresses his hope in the election of James Campbell, noting Campbell was the first Catholic to hold a state office. Discusses the Presidential election of 1852, seeing the Democrats/Free Soil alliance in Ohio as a bad omen, alienating Southern Democrats. Writes, "No Democrat can be elected President who shall not receive the Democratic…

GLC04508

14 July 1830

Garrison, William Lloyd, 1805-1879

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Ebenezer Dole

Signed twice (once struck out) by the famous abolitionist editor Garrison to Dole. Was writing to thank Dole for the 100 dollars he sent. Garrison did not know Dole before he sent the money. Speaks of his prison time for libel in Baltimore a month before and compares it to slavery, saying how much better his condition was. Says "Ah! dear sir, how wide the difference!" He goes on to eloquently contrast a free person who is put in prison to a black slave on a plantation. Also says he is shocked that the North does not understand the horrors of slavery, "their prejudices were invincible -…

GLC04516

23 November 1948

Rutledge, Wiley B., 1894-1949

Typed letter signed

Title: to D. Lawrence Groner

Discusses a book that Groner mailed to Rutledge. Remarks that it reminded him of scenes from his childhood in eastern Tennessee.

GLC04352.06

13 December 1813

Clinton, DeWitt, 1769-1828

Document signed

Title: [Depositions of Andrew Bartholomew & Arthur H. Roorbach]

Clinton's written summary of the depositions of Andrew Bartholomew & Arthur Roorbach, both steamboat captains employed by Robert Fulton and Robert Livingston. Also includes a statement by Clinton certifying that the depositions are true. The depositions relate to the length of service of these two men and the kind of work they have been doing. Both men state they have captained steamboats for Fulton for almost three years and claim they have towed many boats during this time. These depositions seem to be part of an attempt by Fulton to establish that he was the first to employ…

GLC04332

28 March 1785

Walton, George, 1740-1804

Autograph document signed

Title: [Legal Document on confiscation of slaves]

Written by the Declaration of Independence signer George Walton. Was written while Walton was the Chief Justice of Georgia. Legal document in the case Hancock v. Jack. Document declares that three negroes had been delivered by the "Commissioners of Confiscated Estates to Henry Allison." Allison had received the slaves as compensation for military service and had sold them to the defendant. Goes on to say that the plaintiff recovered them "as not having ever been public property." Says that Allison must apply to the government to be reimbursed. Attached document signed by Thomas [Hancock]…

GLC04337

6 August 1862

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Autograph endorsement signed

Title: [Presidential pardon of Charles Wallace who had abandoned his regiment in the Dakota Territory in October 1856].

Abraham Lincoln's 6 August 1862 pardon of Charles Wallace is on the verso of a letter to him from Dakota Territory representative J. B. S. Todd in Washington, D.C. dated 3 August 1862, which said he enclosed a letter to Lincon from Obed Foote of Yanktown, Dakota Territory (Foote letter is lacking). Wallace would be pardoned on condtion that he return to his regiment. Also on the verso is an endorsement by military surgeon Justus Townsend, dated 20 November 1862, stating that he has found Wallace unfit for military duty because of an injured hand that likely will require amputation, and a…

GLC04437

11 May 1865 - 13 May 1865

Stanton, Edwin M. (Edwin McMasters), 1814-1869

Header Record

Title: Letter and two telegrams requesting prosecution of Horace Greeley [Decimalized .01-.03]

Edwin M. Stanton writes one letter and two telegrams to Edwards Pierrepont asking him to prosecute Horace Greeley, who Stanton claims has tried to incite others to murder him.

GLC04452