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At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 85,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World through the end of the twentieth century.

Wayne, Anthony, 1745-1796 [Notes from the Pennsylvania Executive Council regarding pardons, appointments, and appropriations of funds].

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC08497 Author/Creator: Wayne, Anthony, 1745-1796 Place Written: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Type: Autograph document Date: circa 1780 Pagination: 2 p. : Order a Copy

Wayne notes that on 6 January 1780, the Executive Council pardoned William Cassidy and Peter Swope, both of whom were "convicted of high treason--on condition that he serve as a soldier during the present war in one of the regiments of this State..." Wayne terms the declaration of the Council "A dangerous president [sic--precedent]...of fatal consequences." Also notes the appointment of a judge who took office while failing to resign as a member of the House of Representatives. Mentions disparagingly the appropriations of scalping rewards and other questionable payments. Concludes with entry on 9 June stating: "The E.C. declare Martial Law in violation of every Principle of Liberty & the Constitution."

Wayne, Anthony, 1745-1796

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