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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.

Noble, Patrick, fl. 1839 to George R. Gilman, Governor of Georgia

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC09141.01 Author/Creator: Noble, Patrick, fl. 1839 Place Written: s.l. Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 4 September 1839 Pagination: 3 p. : Order a Copy

Letter about the crisis over fugitive slaves and the landmark Supreme Court case, Prigg vs. Pennsylvania, which determined that states were not required to enforce slave laws of other states. From South Carolina Gov. Patrick Noble to Gov. of Georgia, George Gilman: "Have heard with much regret that a grave controversy has risen between the States of Georgia & Maine touching an alleged violation, by the latter, of that important provision in the Constitution of the United States which relates to the apprehension and delivery of 'Fugitives from justice. This state, in common with her sister states, feels a deep intent in preserving inviolate all the stipulation of the compact of the Union, and is profoundly sensible of the vast importance that each member of the Confederacy should faithfully perform all the obligations it has incurred..."

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