The Constitution of the United States of America

CONTENTS.

AN ANALYTICAL INDEX OF THE CONSTITUTION AND AMENDMENTS WILL BE
SEEN AT PAGE 38, AND AN INDEX TO THE RESIDUE OF THE MATTER CONTAINED IN
THIS VOLUME WILL BE FOUND AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE BOOK.

CHAPTER 1.

1. THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES

2. The dates of ratification of the Constitution by the Thirteen original States 24

3. THE ARTICLES OF AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION.... 25

4. The verification of the Constitution and amendments by the Secretary of

State.......

5. The Headings and dates of ratification of the amendments of the Constitu-

tion ......

...... 33

6. AN ANALYTICAL INDEX OF THE CONSTITUTION as amended 38

CHAPTER 2.

Introductory remarks to this Chapter

OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS, AND THE CAUSES WHICH LED TO

THE ADOPTION AND RATIFICATION OF THE CONSTITU-

TION OF THE UNITED STATES, viz:..........................

........

1. REPORT OF A COMMITTEE OF THE CONGRESS OF THE CON-

FEDERATION, on the objections of one of the States to confer certain

powers on Congress with regard to revenue and commerce. 16th De-

2. ADDRESS OF CONGRESS TO THE STATES, calling upon their jus-

tice and plighted faith, and representing the consequences of a failure

on their part to sustain the Government and provide for its wants. 26th

April, 1783....................

..........

139

3. PREAMBLE AND RESOLUTIONS OF CONGRESS, presenting the
exposed condition of the trade and commerce with foreign countries,
and the destructive effect of foreign policy, and recommending that
power for their protection be vested in Congress. 30th April, 1784.... 140
4. REPORT OF A COMMITTEE OF CONGRESS, with a statement of the
reasons why the States should confer upon Congress the powers therein
enumerated. 13th July, 1785....

5. REPORT OF A COMMITTEE OF CONGRESS, showing the failure

of the States to comply with the requisitions of Congress, and the neces-

sity for a complete accession of all the States to the Revenue System.

15th February, 1786. . . . . . .

142

146

6. REPORT OF A COMMITTEE OF CONGRESS, relating to the con-

tinued non-compliance of some of the States with the requisitions of Con-

gress, and recommending the subject again to their consideration.

3d March, 1786 ............................

7. REPORT OF A COMMITTEE OF CONGRESS again earnestly recom-
mending the subject to the consideration of the States. 23d October,
1786..

8. BRIEF HISTORICAL VIEW OF THE ACTS OF THE STATES

which led to the formation and adoption of the Constitution of the United

States

9. RESOLUTION OF CONGRESS appointing committees to repair to the
States, to make such representations as might induce them to carry the
requisitions of Congress into effect with the greatest despatch. 22d May,
1782...

....

10. RESOLUTIONS OF THE LEGISLATURE OF NEW YORK, on the

critical condition of affairs,-that the existing system exposed the com-

mon cause to a precarious issue,-that the defects of the Confederation

should be speedily repaired, and recommending a General Convention

of the States for that purpose. 21st July, 1782

11. RESOLUTIONS OF THE LEGISLATURE OF VIRGINIA, recom-

mending to the States to empower Congress to regulate the trade and

commerce of the country. 30th November, 1785

151

155

12. RESOLUTION OF THE LEGISLATURE OF VIRGINIA, appointing

commissioners to meet others to be appointed by the several States, to

take into consideration the trade and commerce, and to empower Con-

gress effectually to provide for the same. 21st January, 1786.......... 160

13. PROCEEDINGS AND REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONERS FROM
SEVERAL OF THE STATES, AT ANNAPOLIS, recommending a
Convention to meet at Philadelphia, with ample powers to adopt a Con-
stitution adequate to the exigencies of the Union. 11-14th September,
1786.......

14. PROCEEDINGS AND RESOLUTION OF CONGRESS OF THE

CONFEDERATION, calling a Convention at Philadelphia, to render

the Constitution adequate to the exigencies of the Government and the

preservation of the Union. 21st February, 1787

......................

15. ACTS OF THE SEVERAL STATES FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF

DEPUTIES TO MEET IN CONVENTION WITH POWER TO

FORM A CONSTITUTION OF GOVERNMENT, viz.:

VIRGINIA. 16th October, 1786 ....

NEW JERSEY. 23d November, 1786..

PENNSYLVANIA. 30th December, 1786.

NORTH CAROLINA. 6th January, 1787..

DELAWARE. 3d February, 1787

GEORGIA. 10th February, 1787...................

NEW YORK. 28th February, 1787

SOUTH CAROLINA. 8th March, 1787..

MASSACHUSETTS. 10th March, 1787

161

CONNECTICUT. 10th May, 1787.......

MARYLAND. 26th May, 1787....

NEW HAMPSHIRE. 27th June, 1787........

184

.......... 185

186

16. LETTER OF GEORGE WASHINGTON, the President, with Resolu-

tions of the Convention, laying the Constitution before Congress, to be

transmitted to the several States to be submitted to Conventions thereof

for ratification. 17th September, 1787...........

17. RESOLUTION OF CONGRESS, transmitting the same to the States ac-

cordingly. 28th September, 1787...

18. PREAMBLE AND RESOLUTION OF THE CONGRESS OF THE

CONFEDERATION, in pursuance of the resolution of the Convention,

fixing a day for the appointment of electors, a day for them to vote for

President and Vice President, and the time and place for commencing

proceedings under the Constitution....

19. BRIEF HISTORICAL VIEW OF THE MANNER IN WHICH THE

GOVERNMENT COMMENCED ITS PROCEEDINGS UNDER THE

1. PROCEEDINGS IN THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED COLONIES

respecting Independence.....

2. RESOLUTION OF CONGRESS DECLARING THE UNITED COLO-

NIES FREE AND INDEPENDENT STATES. 2d July, 1776...... 195

3. A DECLARATION BY THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNI-

TED STATES OF AMERICA, IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED.

July 4, 1776.......

195

CHAPTER 4.

1. APPOINTMENT OF GEORGE WASHINGTON TO BE GENERAL

AND COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE ARMY, BY THE CON-

GRESS OF THE UNITED COLONIES, on the 15th June, 1775...... 201

2. ADDRESS OF GEORGE WASHINGTON, accepting the appointment

16th June, 1775 ...

3. COMMISSION OF GEORGE WASHINGTON for the same. 17th June,

1775....

4. RESOLUTION OF CONGRESS that they would maintain and assist

George Washington, and adhere to him in the maintenance and preser-

vation of American liberty, with their lives and fortunes. 17th June,

1775

5. ADDRESS OF THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS of the Confedera-

tion to George Washington, on the termination of the war. 26th August,

6. REPLY OF GEORGE WASHINGTON to the same. 26th August, 1783 204

7. INSCRIPTION AND REMARKS CONCERNING HOUDON'S STATUE

OF WASHINGTON...

8. RESIGNATION BY GEORGE WASHINGTON of the office of com-

mander-in-chief of the army to Congress. 23d December, 1783........ 208

9. ANSWER OF THOMAS MIFFLIN, President of Congress, to the same.

234 December, 1783.........

10. ELECTION OF GEORGE WASHINGTON, as President of the United

States, and his inaugural address. 30th April, 1789................

11. FAREWELL ADDRESS OF GEORGE WASHINGTON, President, to

the people of the United States. 17th September, 1796............................

12. APPOINTMENT OF GEORGE WASHINGTON TO BE LIEUTE-

NANT-GENERAL AND COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF ALL THE

ARMIES RAISED OR TO BE RAISED IN THE UNITED STATES.

3d July, 1798....................

13. TO THE MEMORY OF GEORGE WASHINGTON. Proceedings of

the national authorities on the death of George Washington. 14th De-

1 INTRODUCTORY REMARKS TO THIS CHAPTER ................

269

2 Inaugural address of GEORGE WASHINGTON. (Vide Chapter 4, Arti-
cle 9.) 30th April, 1789....

211

3. Inaugural address of JOHN ADAMS. 4th March, 1797....

270

4 Inaugural address, first term of THOMAS JEFFERSON. 4th March,
1801

275

5 Inaugural address, second term of THOMAS EFFERSON. 4th March,

1805..........

279

6 Inaugural address, first term of JAMES MADISON. 4th March, 1809.. 283

CHAPTER 6.

GENERAL LAWS relating to the continued organization of the Government,

and providing the authorities and means of executing the Constitution

in certain contingencies, and for other purposes··

287

1. AN ACT to regulate the time and manner of administering certain oaths.

This act prescribes the form of the oath to support the Constitution, and

the officers and persons by whom it shall be taken. 1st June, 1789.... 287

2. AN ACT for the punishment of certain crimes. Sections 25, 26, 27, and 28,

provide for the protection of foreign Ambassadors and other public Min-

isters and domestics. 30th April, 1790 ..............

3. AN ACT to prescribe the mode in which the public acts, records, and

judicial proceedings, in each State, shall be authenticated so as to take

effect in every other State. 26th May, 1790 · · · · · ·

289

290

4. AN ACT supplemental to the act establishing the Treasury Department,

and for a farther compensation to certain officers. Sec. 2 requires

every officer and clerk in the several Departments of the United States

to take an oath to support the Constitution. 3d March, 1791................................. 290

5. AN ACT relative to the election of a President and Vice President of the

United States, and declaring the officer who shall act as President in case

of vacancies in the offices both of President and Vice President. 1st March,

1792........

6. AN ACT providing compensation to the President and Vice President of the

United States. 18th February, 1793.

7. AN ACT to authorize certain officers and other persons to administer oaths.

8. AN ACT supplementary to the act, entitled An act to prescribe the mode in

which the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings in each State shall

be authenticated so as to take effect in every other State. 27th March,
1804..

9. AN ACT to extend the provisions of the act to authorize certain officers and

other persons to administer oaths, approved May 3, 1798. 8th February,

1817......

10. AN ACT to provide for the publication of the laws of the United States, and

for other purposes. 20th April, 1818....

11. AN ACT in addition to the "Act for the punishment of certain crimes against

the United States," and to repeal the acts therein mentioned. 20th April,

1818....

294

295

296

12. AN ACT making compensation to the persons appointed by the electors to

deliver the votes for President and Vice President. 11th February, 1825. 300

13. AN ACT for the apportionment of Representatives among the several States

according to the sixth census. Sec. 2 provides for the election of Repre-

sentatives by Districts. 25th June, 1842......... ... ... 、

14. AN ACT to provide further remedial justice in the courts of the United

States. 29th August, 1842. ... ... ... ... ... ...

15. AN ACT to establish a uniform time for holding elections for electors of
President and Vice President in all the States of the Union. 23d January,
1845...

16. AN ACT to provide for the distribution of the edition of the Laws and Trea-

ties of the United States, published by Little & Brown, under the provisions

of the resolutions of Congress, approved March 3, 1845, and for other pur-

poses. 8th August, 1846......

17. AN ACT for giving effect to certain treaty stipulations between this and fo-

reign governments, for the apprehension and delivering up of certain

offenders. 12 August, 1848.......

300

301

302

305

18. AN ACT providing for the taking of the seventh and subsequent censuses of