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by Paul Leicester Ford (Editor)
A collection of rare pamphlets that consider the question of the Constitution, with annotations and a thorough bibliography by Paul Leicester Ford In America, we are too apt to forget the losing side of a question. Few to-day know of the intense struggle that took place over the ratification of our constitution, or realize that the adoption of a government which has worked so successfully, met with the strongest opposition from such men as Patrick Henry, Richard Henry Lee, George Mason, George Clinton, Samuel Chase, Elbridge Gerry, Albert Gallatin, James Monroe and others, while many equally famous were either neutral or gave it but lukewarm support. If the great fear and prediction of these men--that the general government would entirely subvert the state governments, with a consequent loss of personal freedom--has not been realized, it will nevertheless be seen in the following pages that many of their objections were embodied in the future amendments, and the disregard of others has occasioned some of our most serious national questions. --Preface, vii During his short lifetime Paul Leicester Ford 1865-1902] was a historian and historical novelist as well as a noted and prolific bibliographer of Americana (Bibliography and Reference List of the History and Literature Relating to the Adoption of the Constitution of the United States 1787-8, Bibliotheca Hamiltoniana: A List of Books Written by, or Relating to Alexander Hamilton) and editor of Autobiography of Thomas Jefferson, 1743-1790. CONTENTS Preface Gerry, Eldridge. Observations on the New Constitution, and on the Federal and State Conventions. By a Columbian Patriot Webster, Noah. An Examination into the leading principles of the Federal Constitution. By a Citizen of America Jay, John. An Address to the People of the State of New York, on the subject of the Constitution. By a Citizen of New York Smith, Melanchthon. An Address to the People of the State of New York. By a Plebeian Webster, Pelatiah. The Weakness of Brutus exposed: or, some remarks in vindication of the Constitution. By a Citizen of Philadelphia Coxe, Tench. An Examination of the Constitution of the United States of America. By an American Citizen Wilson, James. Speech on the Federal Constitution, delivered in Philadelphia Dickinson, John. The Letters of Fabius on the Federal Constitution Hanson, Alexander, Contee. Remarks on the Proposed Plan of a Federal Government. By Aristedes Randolph, Edmund. Letter on the Federal Constitution Lee, Richard Henry. Observations of the System of Government proposed by the late Convention. By a Federal Farmer Mason, George. Objections to the Federal Constitution Iredell, James. Observations on George Mason's Objections to the Federal Constitution Ramsay, David. An Address to the Freemen of South Carolina on the Federal Constitution. By Civis Bibliography of the Constitution 1787-1788 Reference List to the history and literature of the Constitution 1787-1788 Index
