1838/09/24

Heard, William J.E., 1801-1874

Autograph document signed

Title: [Appointment of administrator for the estate of the late Robert Cunningham]

Acting in his capacity as probate judge, Heard appoints Bazil G. Ijams the administrator of Cunningham's estate. Written four days before Heard was elected chief justice of Colorado County, Texas.

GLC06623.11

1781/12/24

Pickering, John, 1737-1805

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Langdon re: Habeas Corpus, constitutional issues

"The Confederation dearly points out the right of deciding all controversies concerning the boundaries of any state... the present case shows the necessity and utility of such powers being vested in the United States and not in any one separate state lest the whole should be involved in a war by the Rashness, imprudence or prejudice of one or more states... Parliamentary Habeas Corpus backed by the military arm... I ask who is to observe the writ? the Militia? Would it not have been more eligible and regular for the Supreme Judicial Court to have issued and directed a Habeas Corpus."

GLC06542

1794/11/14

Martin, Thomas, fl. 1794-1800

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Col. Langdon re: power of Courts, ambiguity of law

Discussing a "cursed Lusanna cause" of New Hampshire for which the Supreme Court has been requested to issue a Writ of Error. He complains: "[B]oth the [Supreme] Court & Bar could not put a just Construction of the Law, they acknowledged it to be ambiguous.... Cannot Congress explain the meaning or design of their laws." He asks "Cannot & ought not Congress to pass an Act forbidding any matters which were determined & finally settled in the State Courts prior to the Federal Constitution[?]"

GLC06548

1857/07/25

McLean, John, 1785-1861

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lewis Cass

Expresses his hopes that Robert Walker, the territorial governor of Kansas, would not use military force against the pro-slavery people of Lawrence, Kansas, and reflects on James Madison's wise refusal to send a military force to the Hartford Convention during the War of 1812. Insists that "One decision of a court will overturn all that [Kansas slavery advocates] could do," and cites the demise of the New Court party in Kentucky. Lewis Cass was then vice-president. McLean was a supreme court justice. Letter shows docketing in Cass's hand.

GLC06211

1760/10/31

Bernard, Francis, 1712-1779

Broadside

Title: A Proclamation for proroguing the general court

GLC06308

23 Ferbuary 1788

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to Samuel H. Parsons, James M. Varnum, and John C. Symmes

Knox writes to Parsons, Varnum, and Symmes, the first judges of the Northwest Territory. Introduces Thomas H. Cushing, who served in the army during the Revolutionary war and plans to settle in the Northwest Territory. Recommends Cushing for the position of clerk of the court for the Northwest Territory. Docketed as a "Copy of a Circular letter."

GLC02437.03806

1864 ca.

Photograph

Title: Charles City Court House with trees and two men standing in front.

Inscription on verso: "Charles City Court House." Numeric Notation on verso: "65."

GLC05111.01.0779

1954/05/17

Warren, Earl, 1891-1974

Pamphlet signed

Title: Brown v. Topeka Board of Education. Inscribed to Peter H. Brandt.

The Supreme Court's Decision declaring segregated schools unconstitutional.

GLC07940

1836/03/15

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Aaron Hobart

Discusses disagreements in Congress over his positions at a time when, in his capacity as congressman, he was opposing patronage policies and the proposed "Gag Rule." Comments that "It was unfortunate for Mr. [Daniel] Webster that in the position he occupied on the 3d of March 1835 he hurried the Senate of the United States into a desperate quarrel with the House...upon principles so utterly untenable, and so unpatriotic, that they are sinking him and the Senate, under an unparalleled load of public odium." Although Webster and his followers are trying to take him down, Adams reports…

GLC06313.01

February 28, 1865 circa

Lane, E., fl. 1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Abraham Lincoln

Letter by E. Lane, who was formerly Chief Justice of the State of Ohio, with a note by Noah H. Swayne, a Supreme Court justice. Writes to inform Lincoln that Thomas M. Root will accept the appointment of District Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio. Follows with his opinion of Root's character and recommends him highly. With a note signed by Swayne, dated 28 February 1865, endorsing Lane as fully competent to speak on the subject.

GLC05603.01.14