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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.

McLean, John (1785-1861) to Lewis Cass

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC06211 Author/Creator: McLean, John (1785-1861) Place Written: Cincinnati, Ohio Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 25 July 1857 Pagination: 2 p. : docket ; 22.8 x 19 cm. Order a Copy

Expresses his hopes that Robert Walker, the territorial governor of Kansas, would not use military force against the pro-slavery people of Lawrence, Kansas, and reflects on James Madison's wise refusal to send a military force to the Hartford Convention during the War of 1812. Insists that "One decision of a court will overturn all that [Kansas slavery advocates] could do," and cites the demise of the New Court party in Kentucky. Lewis Cass was then vice-president. McLean was a supreme court justice. Letter shows docketing in Cass's hand.

McLean, John, 1785-1861
Cass, Lewis, 1782-1866
Madison, James, 1751-1836

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