Abstract: Letters concerning Kane's career as a Philadelphia lawyer and Pennsylvania politician. He was Judge of the U.S. District Court in Pennsylvania, 1846-1854. There is much professional correspondence, as well as a lot of family material, especially concerning his son Elisha K. Kane. The letters with George Mifflin Dallas and Francis R. Shunk are especially rich for state politics. There is some concerning support for Alexander D. Bache's service in the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey.

Background note: John Kintzing Kane (1795-1858, APS 1825) was a Philadelphia lawyer, City Solicitor, federal judge, Pennsylvania Attorney General and a member of the State Legislature. Although elected to the Legislature as a Federalist, he later worked as a Democrat, supporting the election of President Andrew Jackson and writing in support of Jackson's opposition to the Second National Bank. Kane was best known for his work as a federal judge. Kane's most controversial decision came in 1856, when he jailed a Philadelphia Quaker for failing to produce a fugitive female slave and her two children for the court. Despite a reputation as a ruthless politician, Kane had an abiding commitment to the public welfare that led him to labor on behalf of the Presbyterian Church, the blind and for the promotion of science, the arts and education. Kane was born in Albany, New York on May 16, 1795, the son of merchant Elisha Kane and Alida Van Rensselaer. The family moved to Philadelphia in 1801 after the death of his mother. In 1807 his father remarried Elizabeth Kintzing of Philadelphia. Fondness for his stepmother and the desire to distinguish himself from several cousins of the same name led Kane to adopt her maiden name as his middle name. John received his early education in boarding schools outside of Philadelphia. In 1810 he entered Yale University, graduating in 1814. Having long desired to pursue a legal career, Kane read the Law in Joseph Hopkinson's office beginning in the spring of 1815. He was admitted to the bar on April 8, 1817 and afterward began practicing in Philadelphia. In April 1819 he married Jane Duval Leiper with whom he had seven children. Five years later Kane campaigned for the Pennsylvania Legislature as a Federalist and was seated in 1824; however, he went back to Philadelphia in 1825 to work as an attorney and board member of the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal Company. Although a Federalist in the final days of that party, he was Democrat in all but name and supported Andrew Jackson for president in 1828. He campaigned actively for Jackson, raising funds, coordinating meetings and writing a nationally circulated pamphlet entitled Candid View of the Presidential Question. After Jackson's election he also wrote in support of Jackson's opposition to the Second National Bank, causing enmity between himself and the Bank president Nicholas Biddle. In 1828 Kane also supported the Democratic candidate in Philadelphia's mayoral race with the result that he became City Solicitor. In July, 1832 Jackson appointed him to a commission on spoliation claims after the 1831 Convention of Indemnity with France, and Kane published the substance of that body's work. Kane remained a key figure in Pennsylvania politics in the 1830s and 1840s. In December 1838 he helped to lead the campaign to unseat two illegally elected Whig state senators in the struggle known as the Buckshot War. He was again active in the state and national elections of 1844, authoring pamphlets, delivering speeches and organizing the Democratic party in Pennsylvania. The reward for his efforts in the successful gubernatorial campaign was appointment as Pennsylvania's Attorney General in January 1845. In June 1846 President James K. Polk appointed Kane a federal judge for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania of the United States District Court, a position he held for the rest of his life. His most controversial decision was in 1856, when he sentenced a Philadelphia Quaker to jail for failing to produce a female slave and her two children. This decision exacerbated the controversy over the Fugitive Slave Act. A religious conservative involved with the Presbyterian Church, in 1837 Kane served in the Church's General Assembly as a member of the "Old School" and voted to sever ties with the denomination's New School synods, who favored revivalist methods. Kane was also involved in cultural and intellectual pursuits. He joined the American Philosophical Society in 1825, served as secretary from 1828 to 1848, vice-president from 1848-1857 and president from 1857 until his death. He served on the board of the Academy of Fine Arts, was vice-president of the Institution for the Instruction of the Blind and a trustee of Girard College and vice-provost of the Law Academy of Philadelphia. Kane is best remembered as a federal judge, but was also influential as a political strategist and writer. His skills and support won him the gratitude and respect of two American presidents and many Pennsylvania officeholders. Kane also had a reputation for political ruthlessness. He was remembered by some as a man of ability, acuteness, some learning, [and] plausibility, but . . . without moral principle." He died in Philadelphia on February 21, 1858.

Arrangement: See also Series II, VIII, IX, and X.

Provenance: Presented by Mrs. Joseph C. Aub, Dr. Oliver Cope, Thomas Pym Cope, and Mrs. Thomas P. Hazard, 1968-1974, children of Walter Cope and Eliza Middleton Kane Cope.

Processing information: Former call no. Mss. B K13

Other Descriptive Information: Early American History note The John Kintzing Kane Papers is a large collection containing the correspondence, legal papers, and financial records of this prominent Philadelphian. The collection touches on a wide range of subjects of both local and national interest.   Correspondence: The correspondence contains letters written to and from many of the most prominent figures in Philadelphia and the nation. There is an interesting set of letters from James Buchanan from the 1830s and 1840s, dated from Buchanan's home in Lancaster and Washington discussing politics and current affairs. There are large collections of correspondence from Franklin Peale, Henry Gilpin, and especially Francis Shunk, governor of Pennsylvania. There is also some correspondence relating to Alexander Dallas Bache, including letters to President John Tyler recommending him. Other notable correspondence includes letters from/to Daniel Webster, Martin Van Buren, and Washington Irving. There is also extensive family correspondence, including Elisha Kent Kane. Finally, there are documents that provide insight into the operation of the Democratic Party, with numerous letters and other documents from county organizations and partisan associations to Kane. In addition to the personal correspondence, there are documents relating to Philadelphia institutions. These include papers dealing with the disposition of the John Bartram Estate, the financial records of the African Methodist Church in the 1820s, documents dealing with the Farmers and Mechanics Bank, the APS, and the Philadelphia Museum (specifically, the sale of its building to the APS). There is also a large folder on the Indian Rights Association, although this dates to 1892. Perhaps the richest portion of the collection is Kane's own papers, which consist of essays and other documents that touch on a wide range of subjects. There is a note on the early members of the Junto, notes for a biographical profile on G.M. Dallas, a eulogy of Robert Patterson, documents on Democratic politics, a series of manuscript essays on subjects such as nurseries (that provides insight into how early childcare operated), prison reform, and on exploration, a historical essay on English aggression in Honduras, which discusses the history of Latin America, a long essay on Hamlet (that carries "not to be lent or shown" on its cover) discusses the author's interpretation of Hamlet's character, citing sections of play and dissecting their meaning, and finally a series of documents on Democratic presidential politics for the 1844 election. (See also Series IX and X)

Certification of birth of Thomas Calwell.

Receipts.

List of contributors and contributions: 2 liabilities and payment - Trustees Receipts for payment of ground rent 182?-1823. Accounts 1820,1823. Account of Bond to Watson Bunting 1823,1824. Expense and building payments, received 1824. Bill and receipts: Cunningham, J.H. 1820 Aug 9, Sept 12 Stephens, Fullman 1821 Nov 17 Bunting, Watson 1820-1822 Nutt, William and Carpenter 1824 April 20 J. Castles Potts, Cyrus Nicholson, John (account), Curtis Estate etc Carter, Joseph 1821-1823 Ouran, Dr.William 1820-1823 Stevenson, Aaron 1822 Sexton, Filnon 1821-1822, 1823, 18224 Nagtee, John 1820-1821 Scott, Henry (B) 1824 Jan 24

Bill and receipts: Curtis, Samuel 1820-1824 Smith and ? 1822,1824 Thomas, Augustus 1823 African M.E.W. Church vs John Nicholson (C) court case African M.E.W. Church vs Augustas Thomas court case Ruben Jarman vs Robert Brown, Trustee, A.M.E.W. Church 1824 Summons: Issac B Baxter, Samuel Curtis, Robert Brown, Augustus Thomas, William Perkins - broadside 1822 Oct 1 Judgments against Scott, Henry - 1821 June 13 - broadside Copy and judgments against G. Daniels, Potts etc 1820, 1821 Mortgage tracing of Henry Scotts residence 1821 June 18, 1824 Judgments in two cases - Edward vs Potts etc Notes - Kane W....to J. Kane Court record of dispute between church and Brown, Scott: evidence, papers, produced admitted for decision 1824 April 28

Copy of Resolutions of The British and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society in reference to incarceration of Passmore Williamson.

List to be invited (4 items). Invitation addressed to C J Ingersoll. Letters from: Bainbridge, Commodore - May 1, May 3; Coxe, D W - undated; DeLancey, Dr. - April 30; Fornel, Col. - April 30; Keating, W.H. - April 22, April 23, April 28, May 1; Kridener, Baron de - May 3; Lloyd, J. - April 24, Undated; Martin, Jacob - April 23; Miller Lt. Col.- May 1; Oliver, Robert - April 27, April 29; Poinsett, Joel R. - April 22; Reed, George O. - May 2; Ronaldson, James - April 22; Wents, John - May 3; Wolf, George - April 21

For portraits of Jefferson, et al

Letters from: Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia; American Philosophical Society; Bartlett, WHC; Central High School, Philadelphia; Davies, Charles; Franklin Institute; Hart, John S.; Kane, J.K.; Nott, Eliph, et al; Olmsted, Denison; Patterson, Robert Maskell; Peirce, Benjamin; Princeton University (J. Henry, et al); Renwick, James; University of New York; Webster, H. Recommending Bache for post in US Coast & Geodetic Survey.

Affidavit that Thomas Caldwell attended lectures (photocopy).

Processing information: The mortgage was found in the oversize collection unattached to a particular collection. It was decided to include it with the Kane Family Papers under the John K. Kane series, as he was the auditor for the estate of John Bartram, Jr., father of James H. Bartram and grandfather of James Jones Bartram and John William Bartram. The mortgage references "Land above described upon a partition being made of the Estate late of James H. Bartram deceased pursuant to an order of the Orphan's Court for the City and County of Philadelphia was allotted and assigned unto the said James Jones Bartram in severalty in fee."

Account with Nathan Jones.

Claim for wages.

Other Descriptive Information: Originally identified William Bartram and Robert Carr as lease holders.  Correction: James H. Bartram and Robert Carr were lease holders.

Motion for deposition of witnesses.

Other Descriptive Information: Removed by Mr. T.C. Cope - 1969 November 11

Other Descriptive Information: See: Parker, F.A. Log of the U.S. frigate Brandywine; Logbook #7.

Written in Senate Chamber, Washington DC.

Autograph - franking privilege

Includes letter from G.M. Dallas to Peter Browne, dated 1845 June 2.

Letters from President James Buchanan dated: 1831 November 15; 1836 February 26; 1839 October 5; 1839 October 7; 1840 December 13; 1841 September 14; 1844 July 1; 1844 September 30.

Letters from Lavinia Sinclaire, William Caldwell, John Finlay.

Address leaf.

Extract from book of Baptisms.

Receipt.

Letters dated: 1846 February 5; 1846 February 10; 1846 February 19.

Certification of Thomas Caldwell. See also: Merritt, George

Committee invitation.

Invitation.

Accounts.

Will.

Petition.

See also: Kane, Elisha Kent. Estate; and, Atkinson, vs. Farmers Bank.

Autograph.

Memorial to State Senate and House of Rep. for passage of an Act for the reduction of the Capital Stock of the girard Bank. Assets of Girard Bank April 1845.

Cost of carving capitals.

Estate - Marble work done by Struthers.

The facts relating to the separation of the Ship's Company of the Brig. Advance. Written by Henry Goodfellow by command of Miss Bessie Kane. Received August 13, 1973 - Gift of Mrs. E. Paul DuPont

Other Descriptive Information: A photocopy of a fragmant. Returned to Mr. T.C. Cope - 1969 November 11.

Also, a cure for convulsions.

Petition.

Folder includes letter from the Mayamensing Bank, Philadelphia to J.W. Houston, Esq.

Report.

Petition.

Autograph.

President of the United States. (facsimile)

Bond.

Receipt.

Letters from mother of John K. Kane.

American Philosophical Society material in re "Junto"

Biographical notes on G.M. Dallas.

Concerning treatment of the insane, (copy)

Eulogy for R.M. Patterson for American Philosophical Society.

Eulogy for Simeon DeWitt delivered by J.K.Kane to the American Philosophical Society. Manuscript removed from 920 Pam. v. 40 #6

Indenture....Presbyterian Ministers Fund.

List of Deeds executed.

Memoranda.

Prison reform.

Sale of Library Company of Philadelphia share to Elisha K. Kane.

Speech to the American Philosophical Society.

Veto message for the Girard Bank Bill, written for Gov. Shunk.

Will.

A.L.S. 1p.and add. Verifying birth date of his son Elisha Kent Kane.

General physical description: 9-7/8x8

Notes written about Elisha K Kane's youth, education, and sea voyages as a surgeon aboard naval ships. Description of Eastern Andes of Brazil, India, Ceylon, China, Island of Luson, Egypt, Africa. Description of slave mart in Dahomey (Africa) and predatory wars of inner Africa amongst chieftains that sought for prisoners as victims of sacrifice.

Other Descriptive Information: First page missing