SUPREME COURT, U. S. NO. 23. DECEMBER TERM, 1844. AMOS KENDALL VS. WM. B. STOKES, & CO. COPY OF OPINION PER CHIEF JUSTICE TANEY. 10 JANUARY 1845.
[Washington]: W. Greer, Printer, [1845]. 8pp. Stitched in original printed brown title wrappers [as issued]. Very Good. Inscribed in ink on blank portion of front wrapper: "With Mr. K's respects."
Amos Kendall was a prominent Kentucky lawyer, newspaper editor, ally of Andrew Jackson and trusted member of his "Kitchen Cabinet." Kendall succeeded William Barry as Postmaster General when Jackson became President.
During Barry's tenure, he had allowed credits and allowances to Stokes and his partners "on their contracts for the transportation of the mail of the United States." See, Kendall v. U.S. ex rel. Stokes, 37 U.S. 524 [1838]. When Kendall took office, he withheld payments to Stokes, although Barry had previously authorized them. Further proceedings ensued in the 1844 case on Stokes's suit to compel Kendall's payment.
The dispute became "a significant Supreme Court case that highlights the tensions between executive authority and congressional legislation in the early 19th century. The case originated from Postmaster General Amos Kendall's refusal to honor a contract with a mail transport company, arguing that it was politically biased. In response, Congress passed a law allowing the Treasury's solicitor general to resolve the dispute, which ruled in favor of the transport company. When Kendall declined to comply, claiming accountability only to the President, the matter escalated to a federal court where William Stokes sought a writ of mandamus to compel payment. The Supreme Court ultimately ruled unanimously that executive officials must adhere to laws enacted by Congress, affirming the principle of separation of powers. This ruling underscored the limitations on executive discretion and reinforced judicial authority over administrative actions, impacting the relationship between the branches of the U.S. government. The decision remains a key precedent in discussions of executive power and accountability within the U.S. legal framework" ["Kendall v. United States ex rel. Stokes" by Thomas Tandy Lewis, published 2022, EBSCO website, accessed May 01, 2026.]
OCLC 70200296 [2- DLC, Harv. Law], 191315197 [1- AAS], 45290058 [1- U KY] as of November 2025. Item #41450
Price: $500.00