1867

United States. Supreme Court

Pamphlet

Title: Review of the Decision of the U.S. Supreme Court, in the cases of Lambdin P. Milligan and others, the Indiana Conspirators.

Original printing of the Supreme Court's April 3, 1866 decision in Ex Parte Milligan, rejecting the military's claim of legal jurisdiction to try and sentence Lambdin P. Milligan and other so-called "Butternuts," Confederate supporters in southern Indiana. Published by the Union Congressional Executive Committee, Washington, D.C. Printed by Chronicle Print.

GLC08445.02

1862

Taney, Roger Brooke, 1777-1864

Pamphlet

Title: Decision of Chief Justice Taney in the Merryman case, upon the writ of habeas corpus.

Printed by John Campbell. Published by John Campbell. Second addition. Taney states "The Constitution provides, as I have before said, that 'no person shall be deprived of life, liberty or property, without due process of law.' It declares that 'the right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effect, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated' ... It provides that the party accused shall be entitled to a speedy trial in a Court of justice. And these great and fundamental laws, which Congress, itself, could not suspend, have been…

GLC08557

8 February 1883

Sherman, William T. (William Tecumseh), 1820-1891

Autograph document signed

Title: Complimentary Dinner by Mr. George B. Corkhill to Gen. W.T. Sherman U.S.A

Menu for dinner, given on Sherman's 63rd birthday. Signed twice by Sherman. Also signed by guests, including John Sherman, Philip Sheridan, W.B. Allison and John A. Logan. With sketched image of Sherman on front cover; sketch with the words, "Marching through Georgia" on back cover. With 18 signatures of the various guests on the last two pages, among them General William T. Sherman (twice), Lt. General Philip H. Sheridan, Chief Justice Waite, Speaker Keifer, James G. Blaine, Justice Stanley Matthews, Senator John Sherman, Senator Hawley, H.J. Ramsdell, Senator Allison, Justice Arthur…

GLC08561

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

September 21, 1789

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Bridge

Adams chronicles a trip to New York to visit the first United States Congress. Adams describes his interactions with a man named Atkins and another named Mr. Mayer in Newport. He also describes various passengers on the ship he took to New York. In New York, Adams heard speakers in the House of Representatives discuss various topics. He comments on the lower than expected level of eloquence, expressing confidence that he and Bridge will be great statesmen. He notes that Gerry Jackson of Georgia and Aedanus Burke of South Carolina speak most, and Ames, Madison and Vinning speak best.…

GLC00958.05

7 March 1829

Jackson, Andrew, 1767-1845

Document signed

Title: [Appointment of John McLean as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court]

Countersigned by James Hamilton as acting Secretary of State. Autograph note signed by Charles H. W. Wharton on verso certifies that McLean has sworn to support the Constitution of the United States. Docketed on verso by Wharton. Writing is faded on document. Paper seal on left side.

GLC01734

5 June 1794

Randolph, Edmund, 1753-1813

Document signed

Title: An Act laying duties upon carriages for the conveyance of persons

Signed in his hand by Randolph as Secretary of State. Signed with printed signatures of Frederick Augustus Muhlenberg, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ralph Izard, President of the Senate, and approved by George Washington as President. Printed act establishes a yearly tax on all carriages used for the conveyance of persons. Decided at a session of the Third Congress in Philadelphia 2 December 1793 and approved on 5 June 1794.

GLC01618

20 April 1908

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Typed letter signed

Title: to Victor Howard Metcalf

Writes as President to Secretary of Navy Metcalf regarding a meeting designed to take stock of America's natural resources. Also invited were the justices of the Supreme Court, both houses of Congress, and his cabinet. Includes a stamp of receipt from the Navy Department dated 23 April. Written on White House letterhead.

GLC01619

January 29, 1919

Creel, George, 1876-1953

Newspaper

Title: Official U.S. Bulletin. [Vol. 3, no.524 (January 29, 1919)]

Newspaper published daily by order of the president by the United States Committee of Public Information. Contains the text of the eighteenth amendment, which established the prohibition of alcohol. Accompanied by a statement by acting Secretary of State Frank L. Polk. Also contains various other news items, reports on congressional and supreme court proceedings, agricultural and industrial information, and a list of casualties reported among United States forces overseas.

GLC01668

9 March 1829

Marshall, John, 1755-1835

Pamphlet

Title: Opinion of the Supreme Court of the United States, delivered by Mr. Chief Justice Marshall ...

Title continues, "... March 9th 1829, Justices Washington, Story, Duval, Johnson, and Thompson, also present, In a Writ of Error from the Eastern District of Louisiana, In the Case of Foster & Elam, Plaintiffs in Error, vs. Neilson, Defendant in Error. Messrs. Webster and R. S. Coxe for Plaintiffs, and Mr. W. Jones for Defendant." Case concerns a dispute over a tract of land in eastern Louisiana.

GLC08699

1814

Hall, John E., fl. 1814

Book signed

Title: American Law Journal : vol. V. : being the second in a new series

Signed by John Marshall three times. Once on the main title page and once on the title page of each pamphlet. Includes printings of Thomas Jefferson's, "The Proceedings of the Government of the United States, in Maintaining the Public to the Beach of the Mississippi, Adjacent to New Orleans," and Edward Livingston's reply, "An Answer to Mr. Jefferson's Justification of His Conduct in the Case of the New Orleans Batture." The rest of the volume is synopses of important state cases. Edited by Hall, a counselor at law in the Supreme Court. Printed by William Fry. Entire cover of the book…

GLC00767

December 25, 1866

Cobb, Howell, 1815-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry L. Benning

Cobb, former President of the Confederate Provisional Congress, requests Supreme Court reports from Benning, Confederate General and former Georgia State Supreme Court Justice. Bitterly discusses legal property cases during reconstruction, claiming that Radicals in Congress are attempting to force the District Attorney "to account for their failure to prosecute such cases. I am inclined to the opinion that the Radicals have abandoned blood and turned their attention to plunder."

GLC00771

16 October 1794

Marshall, John, 1755-1835

Manuscript

Title: Mr. Marshall's opinion as to the penalties incurred under the Militia Laws

Manuscript in clerical hand with clerical signature. Marshall expresses the opinion that "only the fine imposed by the Act of Congress ought to be Collected." He concludes by noting that foreign subjects and citizens are not subject to the militia laws.

GLC00496.272

September 24, 1873

Garfield, James A. (James Abram), 1831-1881

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Rose

Having left papers regarding Supreme Court case number 9 and a pamphlet on the rules of the court at home, he requests they be sent to him. Written on Union Depot Hotel of Pittsburgh stationery with "Pittsburgh" struck by Garfield.

GLC00496.160

March 30, 1799

Clark, John Innes, 1745-1808

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Harrison Gray Otis

Copy of Alexander Hamilton's opinion on the case of John Innes Clark v. Nathaniel Russell at the request of Otis. Transcribed by Clark.

GLC00496.163

October 9, 1793

Adams, Samuel, 1722-1803

Letter signed

Title: to Joshua Clayton

Marked "Circular" and possibly sent to each state. Encloses papers (not present) containing the speech of the late governor, John Hancock, and the proceedings of the legislature of Massachusetts. Resumes Hancock's argument against the Supreme Court's authority over the states. Seeks the views of the other states hoping that they will agree with the commonwealth of Massachusetts on the matter. Invites Clayton to raise the issue in his own legislature.

GLC00575

February 28, 1862

Nelson, Samuel, 1792-1873

Autograph letter signed

Title: to E. W. Stoughton

Discusses the issue of presidential power to disregard district judges in the case of vacancy of the office, sickness, or disease of the district judge.

GLC00839

2 March 1793

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Document signed

Title: [An act to establish the Judicial Courts of the United States]

Printed document signed by Jefferson as Secretary of State. Signed in type by Jonathan Trumbull as Speaker of the House, John Langdon as President pro tempore of the Senate, and George Washington as President. Results of the second session of the second Congress held at Philadelphia, 5 November 1792. Defines the administration of the Federal circuit courts including their interaction with the Supreme Court.

GLC00818

1861

Power, J. L., fl. 1861

Pamphlet

Title: The Merryman habeas corpus case, Baltimore. The proceedings in full and opinion of Chief Justice Taney. The United States Government a military despotism.

Prints the proceedings of the Merryman case and Chief Justice Roger B. Taney's decision that Lincoln's suspension of habeas corpus was unconstitutional.

GLC00833

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

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

1819/01/30

Martin, Luther, 1748-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to the governor and members of the council of the state of Maryland

Martin, Maryland's attorney general, accepts the appointment to argue the state's claim against the Second Bank of the United States in the landmark case of McCulloch v. Maryland.

GLC02450.12

1857

Howard, Benjamin C., 1791-1872

Pamphlet

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.

Printed by Cornelius Wendell. Contains original paper cover, from which several large fragments are missing.

GLC00267.058