6 July 1789

Langdon, Woodbury, fl. 1738-1805

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Langdon

Writes to his younger brother and mentions the payment of some personal accounts. Discusses a bill relative to the judicial courts and states that he sees many faults in it. Disagrees with the idea of annexing the Province of Maine to New Hampshire. Communicates his ideas about the formation of the judicial system including how many judges should sit on the Supreme, circuit, and district courts.

GLC06546

26 September 1792

Freeman, Constant, 1757-1824

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Informs Knox that since Colonel Robert Troup was unable to make the trip to Albany, he made plans to go himself but has been delayed due to Judge [John] Jay's recent illness. Notes Judge Jay was in route to Virginia when he became ill and had to return to New York. He was advised by Troup to postpone his trip to New York until Judge Jay has recovered. Encloses another letter (not included) to Knox he had originally planned on hand delivering.

GLC02437.05629

15 July 1789

Williams, Jonathan, 1750-1815

Printed letter

Title: [Letter from Jonathan Williams to Thomas McKean, forwarded to Henry Knox]

Printed letter from Jonathan Williams to Thomas McKean, "Chief Judge of the Supreme Judicial Court of Pennsylvania." Forwarded to Henry Knox and signed by hand, "The Honble. H Knox Esq. from his affectionate & respectfull Friend & obedt Servant The author." A printed note at the top emphasizes that the author "offer[s] it for public consideration." Provides his opinions regarding commerce and international trade, and how these pertain to a legal case upon which Judge McKean has recently ruled.

GLC02437.04285

6 September 1789

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jonathan Williams

Thanks him for his two recent letters relating to Judge [Thomas] McKean (see GLC02437.04285) and to Captain Newman (see GLC02437.04330). Writes that he will not compliment him on his public letter to the judge, but whenever he has heard merchants discuss the letter, they appear to agree with his position. Would be happy to help Captain Newman, "because you request it, and because I believe him to be an excellent soldier." However, he does not believe that more military forces will be raised in the near future, but if it should happen that more are raised, he will help the Captain.

GLC02437.04351

1 October 1801

Davis, Daniel, 1762-1835

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Says he showed Knox's letter (GLC02437.07628) to Judge Paine regarding the insurrections of the insurgents in Maine. Notes the judge included Knox's letter as part of his "charge" to the Grand Jury. Encloses (not included) a list of names of men being charged for the riot that took place on the 4th of July [1801?]. Says the evidence against the men is "positive and unequivocal." Also informs Knox he furnished [George] Ulmer with summons for the next court date. Discusses the witnesses, noting many of them knew nothing or have lied before the jury. Mentions Reverend W. Pickles was the…

GLC02437.07632

February 2, 1805

Davis, Daniel, 1762-1835

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Recommends Mr. Charles Coffin of Buxton for the position of Justice of the Peace for York County.

GLC02437.07904

14 July 1789

Ward, Artemas, 1727-1800

Autograph document signed

Title: To the sheriff of Worcester County

Accuses Elijah Newton of swearing, "Damn the Authority I swear by God I will kill any man that touchette me." Requests that the sheriff apprehends Newton and bring him before Ward so he may be dealt with.

GLC05549

1927

Sacco & Vanzetti, ?-1927

Header Record

Title: 2 Broadsides and 1 newsletter related to the Sacco Vanzetti case [decimalized]

Materials relating to the execution of Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti in 1927.

GLC05712

September 1927

Newspaper

Title: The official bulletin of the Sacco-Vanzetti defense committee [Vol. I, no. 15 (September 1927)]

Newspaper or newsletter issued after the execution of Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti. The first page has a printed statement denouncing the execution of Sacco and Vanzetti and comparing the case to the Salem witchcraft trials. The rest of the newspaper contains articles defending Sacco and Vanzetti and pledging to continue the fight. The last letters of the two men are printed on pages 7-8. Scattered quotations include the Governor of Massachusetts, Alvan T. Fuller, "Thank God it is all over!" and Judge Webster Thayer, "Did you see what I did to those anarchistic bastards?".

GLC05712.03

3 January 1868

McGuire, Andrew M., fl. 1867

Manuscript

Title: [Witness' statements in Missouri v. Andrew McGuire regarding Richmond bank robbery]

Signed by Mary Ann Harlow, George Wasson, F.H. Conkey, R. Rimmer, A. Childs, Thomas Woodson, B. Murfee, G. Limerick, Jesse Dean, John Brock, James Chichester, William Barton, John Barnhill, Philip Woodson, Martha Gilpin, George Wapon, and B. Minifer as witnesses. Signed by D.H. Quisenberry, presiding over proceedings. Witnesses report seeing McGuire and four to seven others on the road to Richmond, Missouri, and at the robbery site. Witnesses physically identified defendant and his horse. McGuire identified as a "bushwhacker" and his character is attested to. Witnesses describe the murder…

GLC05250

1953

United States. Supreme Court

Pamphlet

Title: [Supplemental brief from the United States Supreme Court regarding Brown v. Board of Education]

Brief prepared on behalf of the United States for reargument by Attorney General Herbert Brownell, J. Lee Rankin, Philip Elman, and other attorneys at the Justice Department. Devoted to information regarding the case of Oliver Brown, et. al. v. Board of Education of Topeka, Shawnee County, Kansas, et. al. Title mentions four other cases. Includes a preface discussing the Fourteenth Amendment with respect to its effect on racial segregation in public schools. Contains five sections exploring the limits of judicial power in deciding the constitutionality of racial segregation in public…

GLC05160

20 October 1864

Button, Charles W., fl. 1858-1877

Newspaper

Title: Lynchburg Virginian. [October 20, 1864]

Includes an article discussing the recruitment of African Americans for military service. States "We prefer to organize colored regiments now, while we have an abundance of the white element in the field to absorb the other, and to guard effectually against the danger which some people apprehend from arming and organizing the servile race." Contains articles pertaining to recent Civil War events. Mentions Generals John Mosby and William Tecumseh Sherman, among various others. Discusses the Supreme Court vacancy caused by the death of Roger B. Taney, Chief Justice.

GLC05196

December 1859

Brown, John, 1800-1859

Broadside

Title: Address of John Brown to the Virginia Court, when about to receive the sentence of death, for his heroic attempt at Harper's Ferry...

Small broadside with lithograph signature of Brown produced by the Liberator, reprinting his address to the Virginia Court before sentencing. Brown denies wanting to murder or cause an uprising. He argues that his raid on Harper's Ferry was just and aligned with the teachings of the Bible.

GLC05508.051

7 January 1840

Van Buren, Martin, 1782-1862

Document signed

Title: [Orders for transport of the Amistad captives]

Countersigned by John Forsyth as Secretary of State. President Van Buren writes to Norris Wilcox, Marshal of the District of Connecticut. States: "The Marshal of the United States for the District of Connecticut will deliver over to Lieutenant John S. Paine, of the United States Navy, and aid in conveying on board the schooner Grampus, under his command all the negroes late of the Spanish schooner Amistad, in his custody under process now pending before the District Court of the United States for the District of Connecticut. For so doing this order will be his warrant."

GLC05636.01

30 October 1839

Grundy, Felix, 1777-1840

Letter

Title: to William S. Holabird

The body of the letter appears to be clerically written; the signature has been clipped and someone has written "Felix Grundy" in a different hand beneath. Grundy, Attorney General of the United States, informs Holabird, District Attorney of Connecticut: "It is necessary that I should know, what legal proceedings are now pending in your District, in relation to the negroes and vessel Amistad- You will be good enough to give the information at your earliest convenience- You named to the President, that you intended to visit Washington; will you do so, and when? Where was the Amistad, when…

GLC05636.03

1829-1853

Header Record

Title: Papers related to the Amistad mutiny [Decimalized .01-.59]

This collection contains the papers of William S. Holabird, who served as United States District Attorney for the state of Connecticut during the Amistad trial. These materials include a letter of Judge Andrew T. Judson which suggests executive interference in the proceedings (#5), depositions of the Spanish minister (#7-9), testimony of witnesses (#10-14), and important letters of Secretary of State John Forsyth instructing Holabird on the Amistad case (#17-23). Also includes Holabird's commission as United States District Attorney (#16). Contains political or legal letters for the period…

GLC05636

April-June 1840

Holabird, William S., 1794-1855

Autograph document

Title: [Brief from the Circuit Court regarding the Amistad case]

Referring to Lieutenant Thomas R. Gedney, includes information pertaining to the Amistad case: "Gidney & others v. The Amistad Negroes. Circuit court U.S." Considers four principle points: "shall the vessel, & the blacks, be restored to the Spanish Government from whence they came;" "whether these negroes shall be restored to the Spanish Govt or be sit at liberty here;" "The Spanish Govt claim that the Amistad being a Sp vessel, and not having violated the laws of nations, on the municipal laws of this country... that the Courts of no other nation can hold jurisdiction of them;" and…

GLC05636.02

9 August 1853

Bean, Roy, 1825-1903

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Order requiring Roy Bean to answer charge of assault with intent to kill]

Cosigned by A.W. Hope and John Foster as securities. Bean awaits judgment, held by the county of San Gabriel for the City of Los Angeles to answer a charge of assault with intent to kill. Bail set at five hundred dollars. Seals intact.

GLC05291

May 28, 1953

Einstein, Albert, 1879-1955

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Rose Russell [in German]

Signed with initials. Speaks about the spirit of the Constitution and the Fifth Amendment during the McCarthy hearings and argues that "it is a misuse of congressional immunity to carry out practices which rightly belong to the competence of the judicial and police authorities." Possibly a draft. Transcript and translation available.

GLC05322

1857

Douglass, Frederick, 1818-1895

Pamphlet

Title: Two Speeches by Frederick Douglass re: West India emancipation; Dred Scott

Full title: "Two speeches by Frederick Douglass; One on West India Emancipation, delivered at Canandaigua, August 4th and the other on the Dred Scott Decision, delivered in New York... May 1857."

GLC07591

January 18, 1801

Copeland, Moses, fl. 1786-1807

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Discusses an upcoming court date regarding the settler's petition. Warns Knox of a gentleman who plans on submitting his petition during the last part of the session in hopes the court will have to extend its session out. Says the gentleman is trying to turn people against Copeland by telling them he influenced Knox's selling price of land. Also lists six petitioners who reside on Knox's land and who fought on the British side during the [Revolutionary] War.

GLC02437.07707

January 19, 1805

How, Marius, fl. 1805

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Wyllie

Writes to ask if Wyllie will help them, through his position on the State Legislature, get approval to appoint a Justice of the Peace for the Walpole section of Bristol. Declares that the town would like to appoint Mr. David C. Burr, who he claims is a "true & genuine Federalist." Also suggests that he contact Henry Knox for assistance if Knox is in Boston. Also warns that a deceitful "Rank Jacobin" (no name provided) may be trying to obtain the same position in a Federalist guise, and urges that the governor does not nominate him.

GLC02437.07902

22 August 1790

Winslow, Isaac, 1736-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Winslow reminds Secretary of War Knox that the General Court is convening 15 September 1790. Hopes to have a "final settlement" in their dispute with the settlers on the Waldo patent. Reports a visit from Mr. [David] Fales about petitions being filed on the subject.

GLC02437.04698

21 July 1787

Dane, Nathan, 1752-1835

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Provides his opinion on the legal haggling over the boundaries of the Waldo patent lands. Discusses the legal authority of the courts to be involved in the disputes.

GLC02437.09167

circa 1787

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph document

Title: [Paper on the United States Constitution]

Knox's views on government and how the Articles of Confederation are not effective. Pages 5-8 constitute a redraft of pages 1-4. Sewn binding.

GLC02437.03650