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Marshall, John, 1755-1835 to Henry Clay

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC00141 Author/Creator: Marshall, John, 1755-1835 Place Written: Richmond, Virginia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: December 22, 1823 Pagination: 4 p. : address : free frank Height: 27 cm, Width: 21 cm Order a Copy

Briefly mentions a legal issue in Kentucky. Comments at length on Senator Richard M. Johnson's proposal that more than a simple majority of Supreme Court justices must agree in order to declare a law unconstitutional. He disagrees with Johnson's effort to weaken the court's ability to deliberate on the constitutionality of federal laws (which had been established in Marbury v. Madison). In the course of refuting Johnson, he also argues against expanding the size of the Supreme Court.

Marshall, John, 1755-1835
Clay, Henry, 1777-1852
Johnson, Richard Mentor, 1780-1850

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