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Early American Law from William Reese Co. Early American Law from William Reese Co. By Michael Stillman The William Reese Company recently issued its 249th catalogue, this one titled Early American Law and Legal Thought. Most works are from the late colonial period to the pre-Civil War era, or roughly 1750-1850. The types of documents vary, from federal and state founding laws to trials for gruesome murders. Of course, the latter makes the most interesting reading, though the former are undoubtedly more important. There is a routine legal document from 1850 in the hand of attorney Abraham Lincoln (imagine, the first Republican president was a...trial lawyer!). There are Indian treaties and Confederate laws, an account of the trial of former Vice-President Aaron Burr and the impeachment of President Andrew Johnson, a sensationalized account of Utah's Mountain Meadows Massacre and a Lincoln biography by his law partner. Here are a few of the other works you will find in Reese's legal catalogue. Back in the day, the United States government was interested in paying down its national debt, rather than expanding it. The fledgling nation and its states had been forced to borrow money to conduct its revolution. Now free and independent, its leaders, notably Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton, wanted to establish the nation's creditworthiness and financial stability. While Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson differed on many things, they agreed on the importance of paying the country's bills. Item 80 is a copy from 1790 of ...An Act Making Provision for the Reduction of the Public Debt. Known as The Public Debt Act, it provided for certain duties that were raised to be used to pay down the national debt. This copy bears the signature of Jefferson, attesting to the authenticity of the bill in his role as Secretary of State. Priced at $55,000. Item 108 is a very interesting manuscript tying together George Washington, John Marshall, and the Lees of Virginia. John Marshall was unquestionably the most important Chief Justice ever of the U.S. Supreme Court. He was also a biographer of Washington. His Life of Washington is generally regarded as the definitive biography of America's first president. This item is a long letter from Marshall to Henry Lee IV in 1833. Lee spent much of his life defending the reputation of his father, "Light Horse" Harry Lee, a comrade-in-arms and favorite of Washington who years later found himself imprisoned for debt. Marshall responds to some suggestions/criticisms Lee had made in an earlier letter. Henry Lee IV is an obscure figure now, but almost everyone is familiar with his brother, Robert E. $15,000. Item 176 is an 1832 printing of American-Indian treaties: Laws of the Colonial and State Governments, Relating to Indians and Indian Affairs, from 1633 to 1831... The timing is most ironic. This was published at the time pressure was first being placed on the Cherokees to leave their ancestral home in Georgia for the more barren territory of Oklahoma. The period covered, up to 1831, was when America, for the most part, honored its treaties with the Indian nations. Going forward, the nation would ignore virtually all of them. $1,250.
Early American Law from William Reese Co. Possibly the first Montana imprint tells of criminals and vigilantes. Crime always pays, at least for those who write and report about it (witness the spate of TV shows about crime today). Here is a rare book about criminals from 1866, one of the earliest Montana imprints: The Vigilantes of Montana, or Popular Justice in the Rocky Mountains. Being a Correct and Impartial Narrative of the Chase, Trial, Capture and Execution of Henry Plummer's Road Agent Band...by Thomas Dimsdale. This has been described by some bibliographers as the first book printed in Montana, though we cannot verify this. Lawlessness reigned in early Montana, and Henry Plummer's gang was evidently one of the more notorious, engaging in robberies and murder. Once captured, the local townfolk wanted him strung up as soon as possible. He was convicted, but the jury voted for banishment and confiscation of property, rather than death. This did not sit well with the locals, who promptly captured Plummer at his home and marched him to the gallows. Dimsdale's account is said to be one of the best pictures of the lawless conditions that existed in Montana at the time. It is also described as a good attempt to be impartial, though the author's sentiments do come out, particularly at the end where he proclaims, "No man need be ashamed of his connection with the Virginia Vigilantes." Those who strung up Plummer were the "Virginia Vigilantes" as the event took place in Virginia City, Montana. Item 47. $17,500. Pedro Gibert and his band of twelve accomplices were said to be the last pirates operating in U.S. waters. Gibert was no Johnny Depp. In 1832, they captured the brig Mexican, stole its silver, locked the men below, and set it on fire. The crew managed to escape before being burned alive, and were able to report the piracy to authorities. A year later, British authorities found the pirates off the African coast, attempting to transport slaves. The British blew up their ship and brought the men to Boston for trial. Gibert and his crew were convicted, and all thirteen were hanged. Item 63, published in 1834, retells the story: A Report of the Trial of Pedro Gibert, Bernardo de Soto... $1,500. You may reach the William Reese Company online at www.reeseco.com, or by phone at 203-789-8081.

Early American Law from William Reese Co.

By Michael Stillman

The William Reese Company recently issued its 249th catalogue, this one titled Early American Law and Legal Thought. Most works are from the late colonial period to the pre-Civil War era, or roughly 1750-1850. The types of documents vary, from federal and state founding laws to trials for gruesome murders. Of course, the latter makes the most interesting reading, though the former are undoubtedly more important. There is a routine legal document from 1850 in the hand of attorney Abraham Lincoln (imagine, the first Republican president was a...trial lawyer!). There are Indian treaties and Confederate laws, an account of the trial of former Vice-President Aaron Burr and the impeachment of President Andrew Johnson, a sensationalized account of Utah's Mountain Meadows Massacre and a Lincoln biography by his law partner. Here are a few of the other works you will find in Reese's legal catalogue.

Back in the day, the United States government was interested in paying down its national debt, rather than expanding it. The fledgling nation and its states had been forced to borrow money to conduct its revolution. Now free and independent, its leaders, notably Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton, wanted to establish the nation's creditworthiness and financial stability. While Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson differed on many things, they agreed on the importance of paying the country's bills. Item 80 is a copy from 1790 of ...An Act Making Provision for the Reduction of the Public Debt. Known as The Public Debt Act, it provided for certain duties that were raised to be used to pay down the national debt. This copy bears the signature of Jefferson, attesting to the authenticity of the bill in his role as Secretary of State. Priced at $55,000.

Item 108 is a very interesting manuscript tying together George Washington, John Marshall, and the Lees of Virginia. John Marshall was unquestionably the most important Chief Justice ever of the U.S. Supreme Court. He was also a biographer of Washington. His Life of Washington is generally regarded as the definitive biography of America's first president. This item is a long letter from Marshall to Henry Lee IV in 1833. Lee spent much of his life defending the reputation of his father, "Light Horse" Harry Lee, a comrade-in-arms and favorite of Washington who years later found himself imprisoned for debt. Marshall responds to some suggestions/criticisms Lee had made in an earlier letter. Henry Lee IV is an obscure figure now, but almost everyone is familiar with his brother, Robert E. $15,000.

Item 176 is an 1832 printing of American-Indian treaties: Laws of the Colonial and State Governments, Relating to Indians and Indian Affairs, from 1633 to 1831... The timing is most ironic. This was published at the time pressure was first being placed on the Cherokees to leave their ancestral home in Georgia for the more barren territory of Oklahoma. The period covered, up to 1831, was when America, for the most part, honored its treaties with the Indian nations. Going forward, the nation would ignore virtually all of them. $1,250.

Early American Law from William Reese Co.

Possibly the first Montana imprint tells of criminals and vigilantes.

Crime always pays, at least for those who write and report about it (witness the spate of TV shows about crime today). Here is a rare book about criminals from 1866, one of the earliest Montana imprints: The Vigilantes of Montana, or Popular Justice in the Rocky Mountains. Being a Correct and Impartial Narrative of the Chase, Trial, Capture and Execution of Henry Plummer's Road Agent Band...by Thomas Dimsdale. This has been described by some bibliographers as the first book printed in Montana, though we cannot verify this. Lawlessness reigned in early Montana, and Henry Plummer's gang was evidently one of the more notorious, engaging in robberies and murder. Once captured, the local townfolk wanted him strung up as soon as possible. He was convicted, but the jury voted for banishment and confiscation of property, rather than death. This did not sit well with the locals, who promptly captured Plummer at his home and marched him to the gallows. Dimsdale's account is said to be one of the best pictures of the lawless conditions that existed in Montana at the time. It is also described as a good attempt to be impartial, though the author's sentiments do come out, particularly at the end where he proclaims, "No man need be ashamed of his connection with the Virginia Vigilantes." Those who strung up Plummer were the "Virginia Vigilantes" as the event took place in Virginia City, Montana. Item 47. $17,500.

Pedro Gibert and his band of twelve accomplices were said to be the last pirates operating in U.S. waters. Gibert was no Johnny Depp. In 1832, they captured the brig Mexican, stole its silver, locked the men below, and set it on fire. The crew managed to escape before being burned alive, and were able to report the piracy to authorities. A year later, British authorities found the pirates off the African coast, attempting to transport slaves. The British blew up their ship and brought the men to Boston for trial. Gibert and his crew were convicted, and all thirteen were hanged. Item 63, published in 1834, retells the story: A Report of the Trial of Pedro Gibert, Bernardo de Soto... $1,500.

You may reach the William Reese Company online at www.reeseco.com, or by phone at 203-789-8081.