Description:

Roger B. Taney
Washington, DC, October 29, 1859
Roger B. Taney ALS to Justice Mclean Re: Unnamed 1859 Case
LS
A three-page autograph letter signed by Chief Justice Roger Taney to Associate Justice John McLean. 3pp of a bifolium, measuring 5" x 8", Washington, D.C., dated October 29, 1859. Signed "R. B. Taney." Taney writes to discuss an unidentified case with McLean. Very light toning overall, with some light wear to bottom corners. Boldly signed.

In part:

"I did not receive your letter until this morning, and had not before seen the opinion of Judge Nelson. It appears to me however to be right, & in conformity with the intentions of the Supreme Court when the rule was adopted. I so understood it at the time, and supposed it was so understood by the members of the Court. The operation of the order of refuse was postponed until the first of May to prevent embarrassment of injustice in loses where proceedings under state liens had been or should be instituted before the District Courts were apprised of the change made…"

Roger B. Taney (1777-1864) was admitted to the bar in 1799 at Annapolis and served one year in the Maryland House of Delegates before settling down in Frederick, Maryland, to practice law. He returned to the Maryland House of Delegates in 1816, when he was elected to the state senate. Taney later served as chief justice from 1835 to 1864; he had a brilliant lifetime legal track record and is best known for orchestrating a single judicial decision, Dred Scott v. Sanford (1857).

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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  • Dimensions: 5" x 8"
  • Medium: LS

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