James Sullivan (1) (1744–1808)

... Was there ever a profound common lawyer known in one of the Eastern states? There never was, nor never can be one from those states. The basis of their law, is neither Common, not Civil. It is an original if any compound can be so called. It's foundation seems to have been laid in the spirit & principles of Jewish law, incorporated with some words & phrases of Common law, and an abundance of notions of their own. This makes an amalgam sui generis; and it is well known that a man first & show more thoroughly initiated into the principles of one system of law, can never become pure and sound in any other. Ld. Mansfield was a splendid proof of this. Therefore I say there never was, nor can be, a profound Common lawyer from those states. Sullivan had the reputation of preeminence there as a common lawyer. But we have his History of land titles, which gives us his measure.

(TJ to Albert Gallatin, 1810)
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Th. Jefferson presents his compliments to Mr. Sullivan & thanks him for the perusal of the pamphlet he was so kind as to send him. He sees with great pleasure every testimony to the principles of pure republicanism; and every effort to preserve untouched that partition of the sovereignty which our excellent constitution has made, between the general & particular governments. He is firmly persuaded that it is by giving due tone to the latter, that the former will be preserved in vigour also, show more the constitution having foreseen it's incompetency to all the objects of government & therefore confined it to those specially described. When it shall become incompetent to these also, instead of flying to monarchy for that semblance of tranquility which it is the nature of slavery always to hold forth, the true remedy would be a subdivision as Mr. Sullivan observes. But it is hoped that by a due poise & partition of powers between the general & particular governments we have found the secret of extending the benign blessings of republicanism over still greater tracts of country than we possess, and that a subdivision may be avoided for ages, if not for ever. (TJ to Sullivan, 31 July 1791)

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