Matthews, Stanley

Description

Autograph ID: 6990
Condition: Very good
Description: “(1824-1889) Edited Cincinnati Herald 1846-1848, Ohio judge, state Senator 1856-57, US Attorney for the So. Dist. of Ohio 1858-61. Lieut. Col. of the 23rd Ohio Infantry in the Civil War. Legal counsel to officials who brokered the Electoral Compromise of 1877. In 1877, Ohio legislature selected him to complete John Sherman's term in the US Senate; he did not seek reappointment when the term expired in 1879. President Hayes nominated Matthews as Associate Justice in 1881. The Senate accused Hayes of cronyism as he and Matthews were classmates at Kenyon College, practiced law in Cincinnati, and were officers in the state infantry; the Senate did not act on the nomination. President Garfield renominated Matthews, confirmed 24-23, narrowest confirmation for a successful Court nominee in history. He served on the Court 1881-89. In Yick Wo v. Hopkins (1886), Matthews held that the 14th Amendment applied to all persons, citizens and aliens alike, and struck down a facially neutral San Francisco ordinance regulating licensing of laundries because it was discriminatorily applied to exclude Chinese laundrymen. In Ex Parte Crow Dog (1883) he followed precedent established by Chief Justice Marshall in respecting the quasi-sovereign status of American Indian tribes. Preventing extension of territorial court jurisdiction over Indians, Matthews sought to preserve the authority of tribal law on the reservations.

Signature while Ohio US Senator on 2 ¼ x 5 ¼ fragment of an autograph album page, adds "Ohio" under his signature. No place (Washington), no date (ca. 1878).”

Type: Signature