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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.

Holmes, Abraham (1754-1839) to Aaron Hobart

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC06313.04.132 Author/Creator: Holmes, Abraham (1754-1839) Place Written: Boston, Massachusetts Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 8 January 1822 Pagination: 3 p. : address : free frank ; 25.1 x 20.2 cm. Order a Copy

Discusses the bankruptcy law being considered by Congress. States that his opinion is at odds with Hobart's. Holmes contends that it was a "universal understanding of the people at the time of the ratifying of the Constitution" that a clause authorized the passage of a debtors relief law, but that such a law might "destroy every principle of Justice and equity," it would "destroy every idea that we have of Natural, Civil or political Justice." Comments on problems with the petition for a "new post road." Discusses three capital trials (one for a prison murder and two for highway robbery in Boston. Discusses the resignation of municipal court Judge Dawn and possible successors vying for the appointment.

Holmes, Abraham R., 1754-1839
Hobart, Aaron, 1787-1858
Dawn (judge), fl. 1822
Quincy, Josiah, fl. 1822
Whitman, Benjamin
Thatcher, Peter O., fl. 1822

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