Excerpt from History, Formation of the Constitution, Vol. 1 of 2: United States of America Very many years have gone by since I conceived a hope of one day writing a history of the forma tion of our federal constitution. The congress of the confederation and the federal convention having sat with closed doors and under injunctions of se crecy, materials for the work lay almost exclusively in manuscripts widely dispersed. I have visited the archives of more than half the thirteen states, and have never neglected an opportunity of taking copies of papers relating to the subject wherever I could find them. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

Excerpt from History, Formation of the Constitution, Vol. 1 of 2: United States of America In turning to the rich materials that are preserved in the archives of Massachusetts, I have had most friendly and beneficial assistance from Mr. Henry B. Peirce, the present secretary of that commonwealth; and the cordial co-operation of those employed in his office. The descendants of John Adams for three generations have unfailingly been ready to further my researches. The papers of Samuel Adams came into my possession through the late Samuel Adams Wells. From Mr. John A. King I have received reports of debates in the federal convention of 1787, taken by Rufus King, who was at that time still in the public service of Massachusetts. From Connecticut valuable papers of Roger Sherman came to me through Professor Simeon E. Baldwin, of New Haven; though nothing equal in importance to the document which embodies nine articles of amendments of the confederation, and which is preserved only in Sherman's Life, by Jeremiah Evarts. Through the kindness of Mr. Oliver Ellsworth Wood, of New York, I was able to examine what remains of the manuscripts of Chief-Justice Ellsworth. The large collections left by William Samuel Johnson have been open to me through three generations of their possessors. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

Excerpt from The Constitution of the United States, Vol. 1 of 2: Its History, Application and Construction The Constitution of the United States is one of the great written instruments of the world. Its adoption marked the most advanced progress along the line of representative government which had occurred in history, and its influence has surpassed that of any similar document. Concerning the formation of the Constitution there was long a prevalent misconception. It was not wholly an orig inal creation of those who framed-it. The Colonial State papers, 'the Resolves of Congress, the Articles of Confedera tion and the State Constitutions contained many excellent provisions which were inserted in the greater instrument, while precedents for other provisions were found in the British Constitution. In the manner of arrangement I have followed the divi sion of the Constitution into articles, sections and clauses instead of considering similar provisions together. No attempt has been made to discuss collateral issues, or to criticise the Constitution because it contains too much or too little. Although new problems relating to constitu tional government are demanding consideration, I feel that one may be excused from discussing them in a work which treats of the Constitution as it is. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

Excerpt from History of the Origin, Formation, and Adoption of the Constitution of the United States, Vol. 1 of 2: With Notices of Its Principal Framers A special history of the origin and establish ment of the Constitution of the United States has not yet found a place in our national literature. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

Excerpt from History of the Origin, Formation, and Adoption of the Constitution of the United States, Vol. 2 of 2: With Notices of Its Principal Framers First Parties in the Convention Representatives in one Branch to be chosen by the People Representation of the People. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.