Transcriber's Note:
In text file only, superscripts (located in the Appendix) have been
enclosed in curly brackets {}.
Remaining transcriber's notes are at the end of the text.
* * * * *
HISTORY
OF THE
ORIGIN, FORMATION, AND ADOPTION
OF THE
CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES;
WITH
NOTICES OF ITS PRINCIPAL FRAMERS.
BY
GEORGE TICKNOR CURTIS.
IN TWO VOLUMES.
VOLUME II.
NEW YORK:
HARPER AND BROTHERS,
FRANKLIN SQUARE.
1858.
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1858, by
GEORGE T. CURTIS,
in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District
of Massachusetts.
CONTENTS
OF
VOLUME SECOND.
BOOK IV.
FORMATION OF THE CONSTITUTION.
CHAPTER I.
PRELIMINARY CONSIDERATIONS.--ORGANIZATION OF THE
CONVENTION.--POSITION OF THE STATES.--RULE OF INVESTIGATION.
Page
Explanation of the Author's Plan 3, 4
Preservation of Republican Government 5-7
Nature of American Freedom 7-9
Its Dependence upon the Union 9, 10
Intention of the Framers of the Constitution 11
Hamilton's Purposes 11
The Confederation officially condemned 11, 12
Purposes of the States 12
The declared Objects of the Convention 13
Nature of the previous Union 14, 15
General Purpose of the People 16
Powers of the Convention 17
Opposite Views of the Members 18
Presence of Slavery in the States 19, 20
The Slaves in some Form to be considered 20-22
How they were regarded under the Confederation 21
Complex Relations of the Subject 22
All the States but one represented in Convention 23
Absence of Rhode Island 24, 25
Application of the Minority of Rhode Island 25, 26
Position of the States in Convention 27, 28
Reserved Authority of the People 28, 29
Present Importance of the Process of forming the
Constitution 29
Cautions to be used in Interpretation 30