Item 21: Letter from A[lexander]. J.[ames] Dallas to “D[ea]r. sir, 1812 November 3
Item — Box: 11, Folder: 21
Dates
- Created: 1812 November 3
Creator
- Dallas, Alexander James, 1759-1817 (Person)
Disclaimer for Name and Subject Authorities
Some of the name and subject authority tags have been assigned by educated guessing and estimation of persons and subjects by region, age, profession, and familial relationships. They have been thoroughly researched by using primary and secondary sources available digitally, and named in each description, or in some cases linked directly to the person tag.
Access:
All series and subseries within this collection are open for research, with the exception of a few files within the Academia series that are restricted. The Academia series contains financial and sensitive institutional records from Wilkes College, and financial report records from Princeton University that will remain restricted for 80 years upon creation.
Extent
1 items
Language of Materials
From the Collection: English
Type of Material:
Letter
Condition Note:
Good
Measurements:
9 ⅞ in. x 8 in.
Description:
This is a letter from Alexander James Dallas to an unknown person on November 3, 1812. Dallas wrote this letter to give his opinion on what the outcomes of these cases would potentially be. One of the cases being United States v. Goodwin, 11 U.S. 108 (1812). This case is based on a writ of error to the Circuit Court for the District of Pennsylvania. The other case deals with two American ships, the Sea Nymph and the Emma. “The question is, whether the island of St. Domingo, in October 1809, when the importation charged in this information was made, was a colony or dependence of France, or not… When the government prohibited trade, the courts considered the island to be a French colony; when the government permitted trade the courts saw the island within the category of a neutral nation.” The creator of this letter, Alexander Dallas, was born in Jamaica in 1759. Dallas was the sixth United States Secretary of the Treasury under President Madison, a U.S. Supreme Court Reporter, and a U.S. District Attorney.
Location:
Washington
Transcription:
Dr. [Dear] sir
I must give you a short account of our cases at Washington: meaning to detail the business when I can command a letter home.
The Sea-Nymph and the Emma
The court having heard the day for argument, Mr. Wegman abandoned
the principal point in the cause,- viz: the trial by jury; but prayed a preponement of his argument on the other point-viz: the independence of Santo Domingo, on account of the situation of Mr. T. which obliged him to happen home. The Attorney General, on that ground, appointed to the preponement. The Judges, however, very plainly said that the point could not be maintained. I believe, the parties will pay the money without any further difficulty at the next Term. You may confide the cause as success.
U.S. vs Goodwin. The Defendant’s Counsel moved to grasp the unit of error, on the ground,
there was no appeal in such a way, from the decision of the circuit court. The case is submitted, on a written argument, to the judges, and it will be divided during the term. If the appeal is allowed, the cause will be argued in February on the ninth. It is so low on the list, that a hearing during the preferred term could not be abstained[sic][obtained]. U.S. vs the Abo[ve], Shephip Claim. This case is argued, and will be decided, I have no
doubt in favor of the United States.
I am, very respectfully
– A. J. Dallas
3 Nov 1812
Creator
- Dallas, Alexander James, 1759-1817 (Person)
Repository Details
Part of the Wilkes University Archives Repository
Contact:
84 W South St.
Wilkes-Barre PA 18701 US
570-408-2000
570-408-7823 (Fax)
ask.archives@wilkes.edu
84 W South St.
Wilkes-Barre PA 18701 US
570-408-2000
570-408-7823 (Fax)
ask.archives@wilkes.edu