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Martin, Thomas, fl. 1794-1800 to Col. Langdon re: power of Courts, ambiguity of law

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC06548 Author/Creator: Martin, Thomas, fl. 1794-1800 Place Written: Portsmouth, New Hampshire Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 1794/11/14 Pagination: 4 p. : Height: 30.5 cm, Width: 19 cm Order a Copy

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[?]"

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