The “Report” of the “Committee of five,” of the Federal Convention,
brought in August 6th, 1787. Printed only for the use of the
members, as a basis for a continuation of the discussion. Both
these last two editions, it is needless to say, are of the greatest
rarity, the number printed being probably not over sixty copies,
and as confidential documents, were saved by few of the members.
The Department of State possesses Washington’s copy of No. 19, and
David Brearly’s and James Madison’s copies of both drafts. The
Library of Congress possesses William Samuel Johnson’s copies, and
the Massachusetts Historical Society has those of Elbridge Gerry.
All of these contain Mss. alterations by their respective owners,
and George Mason’s copy of No. 19 in the possession of Miss Kate
Mason Rowland of Virginia, contains not only alterations, but the
objections of Mason to the Constitution, in his own handwriting.
What are apparently the original Mss. compilations from which these
drafts were printed are in the Wilson Papers, now in the Pennsylvania
Historical Society.
[_Coxe_ (_Tench_)].
An / Examination / of the / Constitution / for the / United States / of
/ America, / Submitted to the People / by the / General Convention, /
at Philadelphia, the 17th Day of September, 1787, / and since adopted
and ratified / by the / Conventions of Eleven States, / chosen for
the purpose of considering it, being all / that have yet decided on
the subject. / By an American Citizen. /To which is added, / a Speech
/ of the / Hon. James Wilson, Esquire. / on the same subject. /
Philadelphia: / Printed by Zachariah Poulson, Junr. in Fourth / Street,
between Market and Arch-Streets. / M.DCC.LXXXVIII.