Floyd, William (1734-1821) to John Smith
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC01408 Author/Creator: Floyd, William (1734-1821) Place Written: s.l. Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 31 January 1802 Pagination: 1 p. : address : docket : free frank ; 33 x 21 cm. Order a Copy
Expresses his pleasure at the repeal of the Judiciary Act of 1801 and believes it will make Republicans throughout the United States happy.
Floyd was a delegate to the Continental Congress from New York 1774-1776, 1779-1783, and a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Smith was a representative and senator from New York. The Judiciary Act of 1801 reorganized the judicial system, reduced the size of the Supreme Court from six justices to five, and eliminated the justices’ circuit duties. To replace the justices on circuit, the act created sixteen judgeships for six judicial circuits. The unpopular act was promptly appealed by Thomas Jefferson and the republican Congress at the beginning of his term in 1802.
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