Scarce 1835 ALS Supreme Court Justice John McLean, as Justice For Sale

John McLean(1785-1861) was an American jurist and politician who served in the UnitedStates Congress, as U.S. Postmaster General, and as a justice of the Ohio andU.S. Supreme Courts. He was often discussed for the Whig Party nominations forpresident and is also one of the few people who served in all three branches ofgovernment.

AutographLetter Signed as an Associate Justice, 1 page 4to, Washington, March 6, 1835 toCongressman Joseph Lawrence of Pennsylvania.“Will you do me the favor to communicate to me the late movements of thetwo conventions at Harrisburg and the political effect that will be likely tofollow as it regards federal politics. I wish you to speak freely and withoutany reserve. You left Philadelphia last December the morning after my arrivalfor which I was very sorry, as I was desirous of having a conversation withyou. We shall remain here some 8 or 10 days, before the court can adjourn.” Very good, with the integral address leaf.

McLean wonelection to the United States House of Representatives, serving from 1813 untilhis election to the Ohio Supreme Court in 1816. He resigned from that positionto accept appointment to the administration of President James Monroe, becomingthe United States Postmaster General in 1823. Under Monroe and President JohnQuincy Adams, McLean presided over a major expansion of the United StatesPostal Service. In 1829, President Andrew Jackson appointed McLean as anassociate justice of the United States Supreme Court.

On thecourt, McLean became known as an opponent of slavery, and he was frequentlymentioned as a presidential candidate for various parties. McLean received thesupport of delegates at the 1848 Whig National Convention, the 1856 RepublicanNational Convention, and the 1860 Republican National Convention. He was thesole dissenter in the fugitive slave case of Prigg v. Pennsylvania and one oftwo justices to dissent in the landmark case of Dred Scott v. Sandford. McLeanserved on the court until his death in 1861.

JosephLawrence (1786 – April 17, 1842) was a member of the U.S. House ofRepresentatives from Pennsylvania.