Debates in Congress of the United States, on the Bill for Repealing the Law" for the more convenient organization of the Courts of the United States.
Albany, NY: Whiting, Leavenworth and Whiting, 1802.
Price: $500.00
About the item
First edition. iv, [5]-796pp. 8vo. Contemporary mottled sheep, red leather title label. Minor foxing, else very nice copy. Shaw & Shoemaker 3272.
Item #311896
Debates on the repeal of the Judiciary Act of 1801, which was rushed through by the Federalists at the end of Adams' term. The act had been intended to strengthen the judiciary and had created new circuit judgeships, which were quickly filled by Adams in "midnight" appointments. It was opposed by the Jeffersonians, who wanted a weaker judicial branch
This volume of debates was edited from a Jeffersonian point of view; another volume, published in Philadelphia was edited from the Federalist point of view.
The Act reduced the number of seats on the Supreme Court from 6 to 5, effective upon the next vacancy in the Court. The Act never was affectuated.
