February 13, 1787

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to Marquis de Lafayette

Provides an account of Shays' Rebellion in Massachusetts. Claims the "discontents in Massachusetts" were "speedily and effectually suppressed." Says these discontents were immersed in "Opinions which perhaps were necessarily diseminated previous to and during the revolution [which] seem to produce effects materially different from which they were intended." Discusses the debts, factions, and "the recourse to arms" of the farmers of Hampshire, Berkshire, and Worcester counties. Discusses the government's reluctance to resort to bloodshed in suppressing the rebellion, which consisted of 2,000…

GLC02437.03451

28 October 1787

King, Rufus, 1755-1827

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Informs Knox that Henry Jackson will send him the "Resolve for calling a convention and tell you every thing relative to the situation of public affairs with more precision and particulars than is in my power." Discusses his efforts in advocating for the passage of the Constitution, such as speaking to the representatives from Maine, and trying to correct "some ill impression" they received. Also mentions the advocacy work some judges are doing in support of passage: "[William] Cushing the Chief Justice gave a solemn charge last week in Bristol to the Grand Jury, enlarged upon our…

GLC02437.03684

21 - 23 June 1770

Wilkie, J., fl. 1757-1823

Newspaper

Title: London chronicle. [Vol. 27, no. 2110 (June 21-June 23, 1770)]

Reports acts to regulate trials and elections, as well as parliamentary speeches and business. Advertisements include book publications, real estate, and epitaphs. The opening article defends the citizens of Boston against the charges of Revenue Commissioners, line by line, regarding the Boston Massacre.

GLC08816

1856

Williamson, Passmore, 1822-?

Book

Title: Case of Passmore Williamson. Report of the proceedings on the writ of Habeas Corpus, issued by the Hon. John K. Kane, judge of the district court of the United States...

(title continues)... for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, in the case of the United States of America Ex. Rel. John H. Wheeler vs. Passmore Williamson, including the several opinions delivered; and the arguments of counsel, reported by Arthur Cannon, Esq., phonographer. Published by Uriah Hunt & Son.

GLC08853

1842

Prigg, Edward, fl. 1842

Book

Title: Report of the case of Edward Prigg against the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Argued and adjudged in the Supreme Court of the United States, at January term, 1842. In which it was decided that all the laws of the several states relative to fugitive slaves are unconstitutional and void...

(title continues)... and that Congress have the exclusive power of legislation on the subject of fugitive slaves escaping into other states. Reported by Richard Peters, reporter of the decisions of the Supreme Court of the United States. Stereotyped by L. Johnson. Contains a George Peabody College for Teachers Library sticker on inner front cover. Signed on front flyleaf by Congressman Richard Wigginton Thompson of Indiana.

GLC08856

May 3, 1789

Pendleton, Edmund, 1721-1803

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Madison

Pendleton expresses his pleasure at the organization of government, asks Madison to pass his regards to Adams and Washington, and discusses the state which the judiciary will assume. Also mentions: Appointment of President and Vice-President, national taxes, and judicial system. Postal ink-stamp on address-leaf: "FREDBG.MAY 16."

GLC00099.138

June 15, 1789

Pendleton, Edmund, 1721-1803

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Madison

In the letter, Pendleton asks Madison's help in getting a Federal judgeship in Georgia for his nephew Nathaniel Pendleton. Also, states his qualifications and war service.

GLC00099.140

July 3, 1789

Pendleton, Edmund, 1721-1803

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Madison

The letter discusses the Judiciary Bill, balance of powers, how the Court will operate under the Constitution, long discussion of problems of the Courts, impeachment, circuit courts, and Virginia crops.

GLC00099.141.01

July 1789

Pendleton, Edmund, 1721-1803

Autograph manuscript

Title: Amendments proposed to the Bill "to Establish Judicial Courts"

Madison seems not to have used Pendleton's suggestions in amending the bill, per J.C.A. Stagg.

GLC00099.141.02

December 12, 1856

Pierce, Franklin, 1804-1869

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John W. Geary

President Pierce writes to Geary, the newly appointed Governor of the Kansas Territory, emphasizing the delicacy and impartiality with which matters in the heavily pro-slavery territory should be handled. He covers the removal from office of various pro-slavery officials in the Kansas Territory that Geary and Pierce considered disruptive to their efforts to maintain peace in the territory. He praises Isaac Winston of Virginia, the carrier of this letter, who replaced George W. Clarke as Indian Agent. He reprimands Geary for overstepping his authority by re-arresting Charles Hayes (for the…

GLC00375

September 1774

Thompson, Ebenezer, fl. 1774

Document signed

Title: [Oath to forswear the authority of the pope and the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church]

Also signed by Israel Gilman. Signed as justices of the court at Exeter, Massachusetts.

GLC00376

1722

Book

Title: Conductor Generalis, or the office, duty and authority of Justices...

Modern blind calf; Evans 2327; First American book on procedural law. Full title: Conductor Generalis, or the office, duty and authority of Justices of the Peace, High-Sheriffs, Gaolers, Coroners, Constables, Jurymen, Over-seers of the Poor, and also the Office of the Clerks of the Assize and of the Peace, &c. Printed by Andrew Bradford. Signature on first blank: "James Mark's Book, 1729/30." First printing in America of a guide book for enforcers of the laws.

GLC00286

1805

Chase, Samuel, 1741-1811

Book

Title: Report of the trial of the Hon. Samuel Chase, one of the associate justices . . .

Title continues, ". . .of the Supreme Court of the United States, before the High Court of Impeachment, composed of the Senate of the United States, for charges exhibited against him by the House of Representatives, in the name of themselves and of all the people of the United States, for high crimes and misdemeanors supposed to have been by him committed, with the necessary documents and official papers from his impeachment to final acquittal / taken in short hand by Charles Evans, and the arguments of counsel revised by them from his manuscript." Printed for Samuel Butler and George…

GLC00292

1812

United States. Congress

Pamphlet

Title: Address ... to their constituents on the subject of the war with Great Britain

Disbound. Signed "J Kent." Has states pencilled next to names of delegates in a different hand. Kent was an Assoc. Supreme Court Justice and Chancellor of Columbia Law School. A-D4 E2 ($1 signed)

GLC00422

1789

Cushing, William, fl. 1789

Book signed

Title: Acts passed at a Congress of the United States of America...

Containing the Bill of rights. This copy annotated by Assoc. Supreme Court Justice William Cushing; Collation: pi A-B4 C4(-C4)D-Z4 2A1 2B-2C4. With adverts. First 8vo edition and first unofficial edition of Acts passed at a Congress. Cushing's notes concern division of Congress' and the Supreme Court's powers; revenues collectors, etc.

GLC00447

07 April 1783

Bartlett, Josiah, 1729-1795

Autograph document signed

Title: [Investigation and dismissal of the complaint of Nathaniel Weare against William Towle for the robbery of wheat]

In his role as a Justice of the Peace of New Hampshire, Barlett signed the document six times. Also signed by Deputy Sheriff of the county of Rockingham Solomon Wheeler and Justice of the Peace John Dudley. Bartlett was a signer of the Declaration of Independence

GLC00450

August 23, 1864

Corkran, F. S., fl. 1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Thomas Holliday Hicks

He takes it for granted that the new state constitution will be ratified and a new governor will be elected, but doubts that the new governor will be as good as Hicks was. In Annapolis last winter he spoke with Judge Bowie of Montgomery County, one of the judges of the Court of Appeals. Others support Judge Bond, but he cannot forget Bond said he was for secession during the controversial discussion of slavery at the Methodist Conference in Staunton, Virginia, in 1861. He promises Baltimore County for Bowie. Marked confidential. From 1862 to 1865 Hicks was a United States Senator from…

GLC00451.08

1857

Howard, Benjamin C., 1791-1872

Book

Title: Report of the decision of the Supreme Court of the United States, and the opinions of the judges thereof, in the case of Dred Scott versus John F. A. Sandford. December term, 1856.

One copy of the Supreme Court decision of the Dred Scott case dated 1857. Item is a first edition printed by Cornelius Wendell.

GLC01259

January 31, 1802

Floyd, William, 1734-1821

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Smith

Floyd expresses his pleasure at the repeal of the Judiciary Act of 1801 and believes it will make Republicans throughout the United States happy.

GLC01408

December 3, 1835

Smith, Henry W., 1836-1869

Document signed

Title: [Commission of H.C. Hudson as second judge in municipality of Austin]

Signed by Henry Smith as Governor of Texas. Signed and docketed on verso by Hudson, to the Legislative Council of Texas (misdated 1836), resigning his commission as second judge.

GLC01860.02

December 19, 1823

Webster, Daniel, 1782-1852

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Davis

Serving as Massachusetts Representative, Webster informs United States District Court Judge Davis that the subject of District Judges' salaries has been brought forward (likely in the House of Representatives), and he plans to report a Bill on the topic. Discusses his 8 December 1823 motion in Congress for the appropriation of money to send an American envoy to Greece in support of revolutionaries fighting in Greece's 1821-1833 War of Independence. Seal has been partially torn off causing text loss on page three.

GLC02043

30 September 1791

Chase, Samuel, 1741-1811

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John E. Howard

Writes to the governor of Maryland to formally accept the appointment of chief judge of the Supreme Court. States he will come to Annapolis on Monday.

GLC02296

12 March 1868

Hunt, Henry Jackson, 1819-1889

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox Craig

He comments on Andrew Johnson's pending impeachment trial Says, "It seems to me that it is a predetermination to get rid of Mr. Johnson…and the prospect that the Reconstruction Acts may be declared unconstitutional in the decision on the McCardle case only makes the necessity of his removal greater: I therefore think that the P. [President] will be convicted and removed anyhow: then it will be utterly useless to attempt to get justice as against G. [Grant?] and G. [Grant?] will take precious good care that justice shall not be obtained as against Thomas." Also discusses results of the New…

GLC02382.038

2 April 1868

Hunt, Henry Jackson, 1819-1889

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox Craig

He is working for pay for retired soldiers. Comments on the Supreme Court decision in the McCardle case and President Andrew Johnson's impeachment. Expresses strong feelings about the Republican party and Reconstruction, criticizing the unfair treatment of rebels. "I don't wonder that you characterize so severely that little dodge by which the Supreme Court was ousted of its jurisdiction in the McArdle [McCardle] case…." Compares it to a scene from Tristram Shandy of "accomplishing a purpose and avoiding the responsibility." Discusses the Radical Republican tactic of disallowing votes from…

GLC02382.040

29 April 1868

Hunt, Henry Jackson, 1819-1889

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox Craig

Writes about Captain Wilson, noting that he was an honest man who became involved in dishonest dealings regarding expenditures, etc. Cites his attempts to organize Wilson's ill-managed accounts "in the interest of those who have in good faith trusted Uncle Sam through him." Discusses the impeachment of President Andrew Johnson, mentioning Charles Sumner, an impeachment advocate. "I have not doubted a conviction, law or no law, evidence or no evidence and Mr Sumners [proposal?] just received here, to limit the 'findings' to the facts set forth , and not to pronounce on the charge 'high crimes…

GLC02382.042