Lot 1410

THOMAS JEFFERSON SIGNED ACT OF CONGRESS

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THOMAS JEFFERSON SIGNED ACT OF CONGRESS

Estimate: $10,000 - $12,000

Current Bid: $5,000

(1 Bid)

by Alexander Historical Auctions LLC
July 31, 2026 10:00 AM EDT
Live Auction
106 East Main Street, Suite 103
Elkton, MD, US 21921

THOMAS JEFFERSON SIGNED ACT OF CONGRESS
THOMAS JEFFERSON (1743 - 1826) Third President of the United States, author and signer of the Declaration of Independence, ceased the importation of slaves to America. THE ACT THAT TRIGGERED THE FIRST FEDERAL JUDICIARY RESISTANCE TO CONGRESS Important, fine content D.S. 'Th: Jefferson' as Secretary of State to President GEORGE WASHINGTON, whose signature appears in type along with those of Vice President JOHN ADAMS and Speaker of the House JONATHAN TRUMBULL, 2pp. 9.5 x 14.75 in., Philadelphia, Feb. 28, 1793. Jefferson enters into the Rolls in the Office of the Secretary of State: 'An ACT to regulate the claims to Invalid Pensions' passed by the Second Congress of the United States. The entirety of the act is printed withing this document, which reads in part: '...WHEREAS act to provide for the settlement of the claims of Widows and Or- phans barred by the limitations heretofore established, and to regulate the claims to invalid Pensions, is found by experience inadequate to prevent the admission of improper claims to invalid pensions, and not to contain a sufficient facility for the allowance of such as may be well founded...All evidence relative to Invalids shall be taken upon oath or affirmation, before the judge of the district...or before any three persons specially authorized by commission from the said judge...The evidence relative to any claimant must prove decisively to have been the effect of known wounds, received while in the actual line of his duty, in the service of the United States, during the late war...Every claimant shall be examined upon oath or affirmation, by two physicians or surgeons...Every claimant shall produce evidence of the time of his leaving the service of the United States [and]...existence of his disability...And the said claimant must produce the evidence of two credible witnesses, of the continuance of his disability, from the expiration of the said two years, to the time of his application...That the judge of the district shall transmit a list of such claims...to the Secretary for the Department of War, in order that the fame may be compared with the muster-rolls...no claim to a pension shall be allowed under this act, which shall not be presented within two years from the passing the fame...' Some show-through from Jefferson's very bold signature, with some marginal chipping and an expertly mended tear far from the text and signature, else near fine condition. This law as passed by Congress was designed to provide financial assistance to disabled veterans of the Revolutionary War. It required federal circuit courts to determine applicant eligibility and calculate pension amounts, which were then subject to review and revision by the Secretary of War and Congress. Courts essentially forwarded qualified applicants and their recommended benefit amounts to the Secretary of War who then could reject an application if he suspected it was awarded by mistake. The law quickly became a legislative and constitutional failure because it attempted to assign non-judicial duties to federal judges. Indeed, Federal judges on circuit courts in New York, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina refused to enforce the law. They argued that having their judicial decisions second-guessed or overturned by the Secretary of War and Congress violated the constitutional principle of separation of powers. Acting on behalf of a pensioner named Hayburn, Attorney General Edmund Randolph petitioned the Supreme Court to force the circuit courts to comply. However, the Court avoided issuing a ruling while Congress scrambled to fix the legislation, which it did the following year. Thus, the balance of powers between the various branches of government was further enforced and strengthened. A historic piece of legislation.

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $499 $20
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 + $10,000