James Kent | The Papers of Martin Van Buren

James Kent (1763-1847) was a longtime jurist in New York state and a frequent antagonist of Martin Van Buren. Kent was educated at Yale and was a professor at Columbia College. A Federalist, Kent served as the Chief Justice of the New York Supreme Court and Chancellor of New York in 1814. He also wrote many commentaries on law over his career.

Documents

As Sender

James Kent to MVB, 1 December 1814

A. (From the Albany Gazette of Dec 1st. 1814.) "Communication." "The Chancellor has observed that an anonymous writer in the Argus of Tuesday, under the signature of Amicus Juris Consultus, has thought proper to charge him with using some offensive expressions in the course of the discussions which took place in the late Council of Revision. The expressions or detached words imputed to him,... Continue Reading

Sender: James Kent

Recipient: MVB

James Kent to MVB, 15 April 1826

I thank you for the favor you have done me in sending me your Speech and the document on the Panama Mission. I have read the former with pleasure and instruction. You have made an able, manly and eloquent argument, and without <confessing> to question the wisdom of the Decision, I feel myself at Liberty to say that the argument against the Policy and Expediency of the Mission, is placed in... Continue Reading

Sender: James Kent

Recipient: MVB

Certificate of endorsement, September 1816

We have examined a map of the state of New-York, including the upper part of the state of Pennsylvania, published by Mr. AMOS LAY, and it appears to us to be accurate, and to contain all the counties up to this time correctly designated, and to be well worthy of public patronage.

Sender: MVB, Sender: James Kent, Sender: Ambrose Spencer, Sender: Stephen Van Rensselaer III

James Kent to MVB, 1 December 1814

Communication. The CHANCELLOR has observed that an anonymous writer in the Argus of Tuesday, under the signature of Amicus Juris Consultus, has thought proper to charge him with using some offensive expressions in the course of the discussions which took place in the late Council of Revision.— The expressions or detached words imputed to him, appear not to have the most distant connection with... Continue Reading

Sender: James Kent

Recipient: MVB

As Recipient

MVB to James Kent, 29 November 1814

for the albany argus. TO AMICUS CURIÆ. Your defence of the chancellor furnishes better proof of your friendship than of your discretion. Before you undertook the Herculean task, of supporting the extravagant grounds which his honor has thought proper to assume, common sense should have dictated a more critical and extensive "view of the whole ground." The omission to do so, has involved your... Continue Reading

Sender: MVB

Recipient: James Kent

MVB to James Kent, 4 December 1814

for the argus. AMICUS-JURIS CONSULTUS—No. II. TO AMICUS CURIÆ. THE pledge with which I concluded my first number is before the public, and I proceed to its redemption. In the discharge of this duty I disclaim all personal feelings. The vindication of the constituted authorities of the state, being my only object, I can have no interests distinct from those of truth and justice.—Reposing myself on... Continue Reading

Sender: MVB

Recipient: James Kent

MVB to James Kent, 6 December 1814

A CARD. Amicus-Juris Consultus having observed, that he is charged by the chancellor, in the Gazette of Thursday last, with an attempt "to tear asunder the bands of friendship" which has so long subsisted between him and the chief justice, deems it proper briefly to notice the unfounded imputation. The facts alledged by him were directly connected with the subject of his animadversions, viz. the... Continue Reading

Sender: MVB

Recipient: James Kent

Samuel Young to James Kent, c25 November 1814

PURSUANT to an intimation in my last, I now solicit your attention to the act entitled "An act to authorize the raising of troops for the defence of this state," and your objections to the same. To the passage of this bill you have interposed five objections; several of which appear to me to contain very extraordinary principles. I will not say, sir, that your objections to this bill are... Continue Reading

Sender: Samuel Young

Recipient: James Kent

MVB to James Kent, c29 November 1814

Acustomed sir as your offcial course has made ^rendered^ you with the licentious virulence with which the press has lately <termed> & conscious of the high political ground you have recently seen fit to assume, your first impressions will doubtless be, that the object of this address with is an exposure of your conduct & character to ^a^ course of those virulent invectives &... Continue Reading

Sender: MVB

Recipient: James Kent

MVB to James Kent, c29 November 1814

To amicus Curiae Your defence of the chancellor furnishes better proof of your attachment to him Friendship than your discretion. Before you undertook the Herculean task of supporting the extravagant grounds which his honor has seen thought proper to assume, common prudence should have dictated a more critical & extensive "view of the whole ground". The omission to do so has involved your... Continue Reading

Sender: MVB

Recipient: James Kent

MVB to James Kent, c4 December 1814

Amicus Juris Consultus No. II To Amicus Curiae The Pledge with which I concluded my first number is before the public & I proceed to its redemption. The reputation of the objection of the Chancellor & The vindication of the constituted authorities of the State from the ^you^ causes being my only object, that course In the discharge of this duty I disclaim all personal feelings. The... Continue Reading

Sender: MVB

Recipient: James Kent

MVB to James Kent, 6 December 1814

a Card Amicus Juris Consutus, "having observed that ^he is charged^ the Chancellor in the Gazette of Thursday last has thought proper to charge him with "an attempt to sew discord between the ^him^ Chancellor & the chief Justice" and "to tear asunder the Bands of friendship" which have so long subsisted ^to^ <chose> the respectability of the source for which this imputation proceeds... Continue Reading

Sender: MVB

Recipient: James Kent

Samuel Young to James Kent, c23 December 1814

Believing that your attention, for the time being, must have been sufficiently occupied with the numbers of Amicus Juris Consultus, and unwilling to distract it with a multiplicity of objects, I have delayed for some time to address you. I have waited till the subject of privateering is nearly exhausted. A repetition of my former observations on this subject, would be useless, and shall be... Continue Reading

Sender: Samuel Young

Recipient: James Kent

Samuel Young to James Kent, c11 November 1814

I HAVE recently observed in the Albany Gazette, your objections, as a member of the Council of Revision, to several of the laws passed at the last session of the Legislature. Understanding that the laws, to which you have objected with so much zeal and sensibility, passed the Senate with the approbation of about three-fourths of the members, and the House of Assembly with nearly two-thirds, and... Continue Reading

Sender: Samuel Young

Recipient: James Kent

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