“Questions of such gravity go down to the very foundations of the government. If the provisions of the Constitution can be set aside by an act of Congress, where is the course of usurpation to end?”
Quote by Stephen Johnson Field
Author
Stephen Johnson Field
Stephen Johnson Field (November 4, 1816 – April 9, 1899) was an American jurist who served as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States from 1863 to 1897. He was one of the longest-serving justices in U.S. history, known for his conservative interpretation of the Constitution and advocacy for states' rights. Born in Connecticut, Field moved to California during the Gold Rush and became Chief Justice of the California Supreme Court. Appointed by President Abraham Lincoln, he participated in landmark cases involving slavery, Reconstruction, and economic regulation. His legal philosophy emphasized individual liberty and limited federal power, influencing later judicial thought. more