John McLean
(1785-1861) was an American jurist and politician who served in the United
States Congress, as U.S. Postmaster General, and as a justice of the Ohio and
U.S. Supreme Courts. He was often discussed for the Whig Party nominations for
president and is also one of the few people who served in all three branches of
government.
Autograph
Letter Signed as an Associate Justice, 1 page 4to, Washington, March 6, 1835 to
Congressman Joseph Lawrence of Pennsylvania.
“Will you do me the favor to communicate to me the late movements of the
two conventions at Harrisburg and the political effect that will be likely to
follow as it regards federal politics. I wish you to speak freely and without
any reserve. You left Philadelphia last December the morning after my arrival
for which I was very sorry, as I was desirous of having a conversation with
you. We shall remain here some 8 or 10 days, before the court can adjourn.” Very good, with the integral address leaf.
McLean won
election to the United States House of Representatives, serving from 1813 until
his election to the Ohio Supreme Court in 1816. He resigned from that position
to accept appointment to the administration of President James Monroe, becoming
the United States Postmaster General in 1823. Under Monroe and President John
Quincy Adams, McLean presided over a major expansion of the United States
Postal Service. In 1829, President Andrew Jackson appointed McLean as an
associate justice of the United States Supreme Court.
On the
court, McLean became known as an opponent of slavery, and he was frequently
mentioned as a presidential candidate for various parties. McLean received the
support of delegates at the 1848 Whig National Convention, the 1856 Republican
National Convention, and the 1860 Republican National Convention. He was the
sole dissenter in the fugitive slave case of Prigg v. Pennsylvania and one of
two justices to dissent in the landmark case of Dred Scott v. Sandford. McLean
served on the court until his death in 1861.
Joseph
Lawrence (1786 – April 17, 1842) was a member of the U.S. House of
Representatives from Pennsylvania.