REPORT OF THE CASE OF EDWARD PRIGG AGAINST THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA. ARGUED AND ADJUDGED IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES.IN WHICH IT WAS DECIDED THAT ALL THE LAWS OF THE SEVERAL STATES RELATIVE TO FUGITIVE SLAVES ARE UNCONSTITUTIONAL AND VOID; AND THAT CONGRESS HAVE THE EXCLUSIVE POWER OF LEGISLATION ON THE SUBJECT OF FUGITIVE SLAVES ESCAPING INTO OTHER STATES

[Fugitive Slave Case]

Published by Philadelphia, 1842

About this Item

140pp. Early 20th-century buckram, gilt leather labels. Cloth somewhat dust soiled, labels slightly chipped. Paper shelf label on spine, institutional ink stamps on titlepage. Light tanning and foxing. Good plus. A rare report of this important fugitive slave case, leading to the Supreme Court decision to grant Congress exclusive power in such cases. Edward Prigg, a professional slave catcher, was indicted for kidnapping Margaret Morgan, a fugitive slave residing in Pennsylvania. "Northerners and Southerners of all political viewpoints realized [the case's] importance. It affected all of the 'personal liberty laws' of the North, which had been passed to protect free blacks from kidnapping and which were often used to hinder the return of fugitive slaves.This pamphlet.represents an unusually rare instance of 'instant' mass communication in the mid-nineteenth century" - Finkelman. This case came several years before the explosive Dred Scott decision, and the decision was written by Justice Joseph Story. SABIN 61207. COHEN 13856. FINKELMAN, pp.60-63. Seller Inventory # WRCAM52915

Bibliographic Details

Title: REPORT OF THE CASE OF EDWARD PRIGG AGAINST ...

Publisher: Philadelphia

Publication Date: 1842