'This monumental study provides an arsenal of information on the decisions and related activities of the Taney court Swisher convincingly demonstrates by example that future scholars must look beyond the banks of the Potomac to the circuit duties and decisions of the justices in order to appreciate the role of the court.' Kermit L. Hall, The Journal of American History
'It is the great feature of Swisher's good entry in this series of books that he does not try to write a predominately constitutional history. He sees the country as a whole, and puts the Supreme Court into that context.' John P. Frank, Harvard Law Review
'This is an encyclopedic study of the Supreme Court in the Taney years. Swisher does not limit himself to a discussion of major constitutional decisions. He describes the capabilities of court clerks, the merits of reporters, the difficulties of finding suitable lodging in Washington of the Civil War years, Justice Taney's favorite cigars, Justice Davis's arrangement with his wife as to how much liquor he could consume while away from home, congressional debates (fruitful and otherwise) concerning changing the circuits which the justices were required to ride, and the political experiences and inclinations of successful and unsuccessful nominees to the Court. All of this surfaces among the usually clear and revealing discussions of every major constitutional issue of the years 18361864. No one who wishes to understand the history of the Court in these years can afford to ignore this work [Carl B. Swisher] has provided for all students of the Supreme Court an invaluable book. A sign of its great worth is that it triumphs over its assumptions.' Phillip S. Paludan, The Journal of Southern History Paludan
'There are enormous areas of strength in Volume V, for Swisher was a thorough scholar in the areas of his particular interest. These include, particularly, the groups of cases having to do with the rights of corporations, with the commerce clause, with money and banking, with the institution of slavery, and with the extension of admiralty jurisdiction The greatest value of the present work is in illuminating how a change in personnel and a resulting change in political viewpoint tilted the balance of power from the central government toward the states to such an extent that the Union nearly was lost.' John L. Gibbons, Columbia Law Review
'With leisurely pace and magisterial dignity Swisher unfolds his history of the Court in all its aspects; personnel, workload, the judges and the circuits, the clerk and reporter, the impact of war and politics, and analysis of leading cases in their historical setting Though full of detail this volume is uniformly interesting and enlightening. It will be enormously useful to laymen, lawyers, and scholars. If the other volumes measure up to this one in depth and breadth of scholarship the Oliver Wendell Holmes Devise will be a fitting monument to the man who gave most of his life and fortune to the United States Government.' Harry L. Coles, Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science
'Swisher's exploration of the Court's meanderings from New York v. Miln to Cooley v. Board of Wardens is masterful All things considered the comprehensive scope, the richness and accuracy of detail, and the sheer mastery of the material Swisher's work will surely emerge as the standard authority on the Supreme Court under Taney. Not only does Swisher delineate constitutional issues in their full technical complexity, but he does so (no doubt because of his biographical skills) without losing sight of the Justices' diverse talents, disabilities, and quirks their personal, often passionate, involvement in the law they made. Both law and men are treated with a balanced understanding and compassion. Weaving together human, institutional, and legal aspects, Swisher conveys the marvelous complexity and intricate texture of the Court's life and work.' Kent Newmyer, Stanford Law Review
'[Carl B. Swisher's] grasp, judiciousness, and professional integrity are all plainly visible in The Taney Period, and his style is characteristically crisp and clear [F]or anyone interested in the Court as a functioning institution and in the mixture of personalities constituting its membership, this is at once a book that can be read through with considerable pleasure and a useful reference work to be kept close at hand.' Don E. Fehrenbach, The University of Chicago Law Review
