The Eight tells the story of Lemmon v. New York--or, as it's more popularly known, the Lemmon Slave Case. All but forgotten today, it was one of the most momentous civil rights cases in American history. There had been cases in which the enslaved had won their freedom after having resided in free states, but the Lemmon case was unique, posing the question of whether an enslaved person can win freedom by merely setting foot on New York soil--when brought there in the keep of an "owner." The case concerned the fates of eight enslaved people from Virginia, brought through New York in 1852 by their owners, Juliet and Jonathan Lemmon. The Eight were in court seeking, legally, to become people--to change their status under law from objects into human beings. The Eight encountered Louis Napoleon, the son of a slave, an abolitionist activist, and a "conductor" of the Underground Railroad, who took enormous risks to help others. He was part of an anti-slavery movement in which African-Americans played an integral role in the fight for freedom. The case was part of the broader judicial landscape at the time: If a law was morally repugnant but enshrined in the Constitution, what was the duty of the judge? Should there be, as some people advocated, a "higher law" that transcends the written law? These questions were at the heart of the Lemmon case. They were difficult and important ones in the 1850s--and, more than a century and a half later, we must still grapple with them today.

The Eight: The Lemmon Slave Case and the Fight for Freedom (Excelsior Editions)

History

Rosenblatt, Albert M

Americas

State University of New York Press

The Eight tells the story of Lemmon v. New York-or, as it's more popularly known, the Lemmon Slave Case. All but forgotten today, it was one of the most momentous civil rights cases in American history. There had been cases in which the enslaved had won their freedom after having resided in free states, but the Lemmon case was unique, posing the question of whether an enslaved person can win freedom by merely setting foot on New York soil-when brought there in the keep of an "owner." The case concerned the fates of eight enslaved people from Virginia, brought through New York in 1852 by their owners, Juliet and Jonathan Lemmon. The Eight were in court seeking, legally, to become people-to change their status under law from objects into human beings. The Eight encountered Louis Napoleon, the son of a slave, an abolitionist activist, and a "conductor" of the Underground Railroad, who took enormous risks to help others. He was part of an anti-slavery movement in which African-Americans played an integral role in the fight for freedom. The case was part of the broader judicial landscape at the time: If a law was morally repugnant but enshrined in the Constitution, what was the duty of the judge? Should there be, as some people advocated, a "higher law" that transcends the written law? These questions were at the heart of the Lemmon case. They were difficult and important ones in the 1850s-and, more than a century and a half later, we must still grapple with them today.

Picture postcards have provided a visual record of courthouses since the late 1800's. That history is chronicled in a limited edition book, Historic Courthouses of the State of New York that features rare postcard images of county courthouse throughout New York. The postcards are from the collection of The Honorable Albert Rosenblatt, Associate Justice of the New York State Court of Appeals. The Historical Society of the Courts of New York State has partnered with Turner Publishing Company to preserve the history of our courts. Historic Courthouses of the State of New York will be a full color 10 x 10-inch coffee table book that will make a great conversation piece for your home, office, or personal library.

Historic Courthouses of the State of New York

Rosenblatt, Julia Carlson

Turner

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Rosenblatt, Albert M. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Rosenblatt, Albert M

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Rosenblatt, Albert M. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

The Eight: The Lemmon Slave Case and the Fight for Freedom (Excelsior Editions)

The Eight: The Lemmon Slave Case and the Fight for Freedom (Excelsior Editions)

Historic Courthouses of the State of New York