June 21, 1788

King, Rufus, 1755-1827

Autograph manuscript signed

Title: to the Public accusing R.I. legislature of acting "contrary to the Articles"

Probably intended for publication. The essay attacks the Rhode Island legislature for not sending representatives to Congress or the Constitutional Convention. King, who signs himself five times in the text but signs "Procolus" at the end, argues that states like Rhode Island endangered the Union and that the legislature acted "contrary to the Articles of Confedreration."

GLC04873

January 18, 1800

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Letter signed

Title: To Legislative Council and House of Representatives of the territory North West of the river Ohio

John Adams in his last days as president to the government of the territory of Ohio. Expresses gratitude to them for their kind letter, which apparently thanked him for his job while president. Mentions Arthur St. Clair, Edward Tiffin, and H. Vanderburgh. Says "Your sincere attachment to the Constitution and Government... do you honor." Pages are separated and there are two holes in the document, creating some text loss.

GLC06399

25 October 1856

Miller, Daniel L., fl. 1856

Broadside

Title: ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS REWARD. Let every Voter Examine and Judge for Himself!

Election broadside focusing on the extension of slavery. Compares the Presidential platforms of James Buchanan/John C. Breckinridge and John C. Fremont/William L. Dayton. Buchanan/Breckinridge attest that "Congress has no Constitutional right to prohibit slavery in the territories, and that such prohibition would be inexpedient." Fremont/Dayton argue that "Congress has the Constitutional right, and that it is expedient, to prohibit both slavery and polygamy in the territories belonging to the people of the whole Union." Contains quotes from former United States leaders, including Thomas…

GLC06275

3 January 1786

Paine, Thomas, 1737-1809

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Thomas Willing

Opposes the repeal of the charter of the Bank of North America on Constitutional grounds and discusses the power of assembly. Remarks upon the ill conduct of the House in violating the charter and calls the assembly incompetent. States that the assembly is not fit to handle " ...granting charters, compiling debts, fixing funds for the redemption of debts, making money, or any thing else which requires permanency." Intends to publish a pamphlet on these topics. Willing was President of the Bank of North America.

GLC06276

20 September 1812

Burr, Aaron, 1756-1836

Manuscript document signed

Title: Of the validity of the laws granting Livingston & Fulton the exclusive right of using fire and steam to propel boats or vessels

Legal review of the Robert R. Livingston - Robert Fulton steamboat monopoly case. Burr examines the case from two reference points, "1st - With reference to the Laws and Constitution of New York. 2d - As to the Constitution and Laws of the United States." Argues against the monopoly granted to Fulton and Livingston in a point by point analysis. With autograph summation signed by Burr on the last page stating that he made all attempts to make his remarks intelligible.

GLC06183

1844

American Anti-Slavery Society

Pamphlet

Title: Declaration of sentiments of the American Anti-Slavery Society. Adopted at the formation of said society, in Philadelphia, on the 4th day of December, 1833.

Leaflet published by the American Anti-Slavery Society, printed by William S. Dorr. Concludes with "We charge upon the existing national government, that it is an insupportable despotism, wielded by a power which is superior to all legal and constitutional restraints- equally indisposed and unable to protect the lives or liberties of the people- the prop and safeguard of American Slavery." Includes a short list of anti-slavery newspapers.

GLC06200

1862

Whiting, William, 1813-1873

Pamphlet

Title: The war powers of the President and the legislative powers of Congress in relation to rebellion, treason, and slavery.

Printed by John L. Shorey. Signed on front cover by Francis W. Goddard. In conclusion, Whiting states "Rising above the political platforms, the claims and disclaimers of Federalists, Democrats, Whigs, Republicans, and all other parties, and looking upon the constitution as designed to give the government made by the people, for the people, the powers necessary to its own preservation, and to the enforcement of its laws, it is not possible justly to deny the right of government to interfere with slavery, Mormonism, or any other institution, condition, or social status into which the…

GLC06215

1822

Meredith, William Morris, 1799-1873

Pamphlet

Title: A statement, by James C. Biddle and William M. Meredith, of the Philadelphia Bar.

Covers free press versus fair trial.

GLC06232.02

1835

Thomas, William, ?-1836

Book signed

Title: The enemies of the Constitution discovered; or, an inquiry into the origin and tendency of popular violence...

(title continues)... containing a complete and circumstantial account of the unlawful proceedings at the City of Utica, October 21st, 1835; the dispersion of the State Anti-Slavery Convention by the agitators, the destruction of a democratic press and of the causes which led thereto. Together with a concise treatise on the practice of the court of His Honor Judge Lynch. Accompanied with numerous highly interesting and important documents. Published by Leavitt, Lord, & Co. Author (Thomas, according to Library of Congress) writes under the pseudonym "Defensor." Signed in pencil several…

GLC06232.04

18 November 1858

Vermont, General Assembly, House of Representatives, 1858

Pamphlet

Title: Report of the select committee on slavery, the Dred Scott decision, and the action of the Federal Government thereon, submitted Thursday, Nov. 18, 1858.

Printed by Eliakim Persons Walton. "We plant ourselves, then, on this Constitution, and there we are determined to stand, firmly, unflinchingly, unmoved and unterrified by the combined assaults of Federal or of the Slave Power, whether manifested in fugitive or Nebraska Acts, Presidential Proclamations or Dred Scott decisions."

GLC06232.07

1842

Peters, Richard, 1780-1848

Book

Title: Report of the case of Edward Prigg against the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Argued and adjudged in the Supreme Court of the United States at January term, 1842.

In which it was decided that all the laws of the several states relative to fugitive slaves are unconstitutional and void; and that Congress has the exclusive power of legislation on the subject of fugitive slaves escaping into other states. By Richard Peters, reporter of the decisions of the Supreme Court of the United States. Printed by L. Johnson. Cover is fragile, consisting of green wrapper.

GLC06232.12

25 April 1836

Harrison, William Henry, 1773-1841

Letter signed

Title: to C.S. Knapp

Discusses at length the present state of the government and the unconstitutional and monarchal rule of the current president, Andrew Jackson. Quotes Edward Gibbons' "Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire," and George Washington. Expresses his views on democracy, the Constitution, and the principles of government. Ends by accepting the nomination for the presidency from the Anti-Masonic State Committee of Vermont, which Knapp headed.

GLC06614

24 December 1832

Jackson, Andrew, 1767-1845

Pamphlet

Title: Proclamation by the President of the United States and the message of the governor of the state of Illinois, to the General Assembly, ...

Title continues, " ... together with a preamble and resolutions adopted by the Legislature accompanying the same." Printed on the first page is a letter introducing this proclamation by John Reynolds, Governor of Illinois, dated 24 December 1832 directed to the "fellow citizens of the Senate and House of Representatives." Jackson's proclamation attacks South Carolina's Nullification Ordinance (mandating statewide noncompliance with the protective tariffs of 1828 and 1832) of November 24, 1832. Jackson states that the Ordinance " ... prescribes to the people of South Carolina a course of…

GLC06605

February 23, 1866

Bryant, William Cullen, 1794-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Bradford R. Wood

Bryant, editor of the New York Evening Post, replies to a letter from Wood, former Representative from New York. Discusses Black suffrage: "I utterly detest the narrow principles of that party which denied equal rights to any of our fellow men on account of race. The right of suffrage is the due of the negro as well as of the white man... But it does not follow from this, that we may employ any means we choose in conferring this right." Regarding Black suffrage, advocates the opinions of Trumbull and Fessenden (probably Senators Lyman Trumbull and William Pitt Fessenden) as opposed to the…

GLC06631.01

1800/12/29

Sullivan, James, 1744-1808

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Langdon re: election of 1800, support of Jefferson, Adams temper

Also, the need "to maintain our Republic upon the glorious principles of the Constitution."

GLC06535

15 April 1805

Stickney, B. F., fl. 1805

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Langdon

Refers to a constitutional amendment and states that Mr. Crownershield said it was not well managed in New Hampshire. Remarks on American jurisprudence and the problem of relying on British precedents to decide cases, " ... ransacking the huge piles of musty volumes to find monarchical precedents to decide cases in a republican government." Asks Langdon if he believes it would be advantageous to attempt to affect a reform in the legislation of New Hampshire.

GLC06536

1788/05/12

Letter

Title: [Extract of a letter of support for the Constitution from a Virginian to a friend in Portsmouth, New Hampshire]

Recognizes that human political institutions are not perfect, and describes the proposed Constitution as "the result of mutual concession and accommodation" that does not "come fully up to the views of any one." He praises the Constitution as "admirably calculated to promote and secure the felicity of mankind in a State of civil society." He expects it to be ratified in Virginia and was disappointed that New Hampshire did not immediately adopt it, but hopes it will in the future.

GLC06537

1794/11/14

Martin, Thomas, fl. 1794-1800

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Col. Langdon re: power of Courts, ambiguity of law

Discussing a "cursed Lusanna cause" of New Hampshire for which the Supreme Court has been requested to issue a Writ of Error. He complains: "[B]oth the [Supreme] Court & Bar could not put a just Construction of the Law, they acknowledged it to be ambiguous.... Cannot Congress explain the meaning or design of their laws." He asks "Cannot & ought not Congress to pass an Act forbidding any matters which were determined & finally settled in the State Courts prior to the Federal Constitution[?]"

GLC06548

1788/01/27

Madison, James, 1751-1836

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mrs. Trist re: draft of letter opposing Constitution, political news

Also mentions the election of Cyrus Griffen as president of Congress and Thomas Jefferson's opinion of the Marchioness. (Losses on page 1 affecting text.)

GLC06560

2 June 1911

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Typed letter signed

Title: to C. H. Betts

Responds to criticism from Betts over an article Roosevelt wrote in The Outlook denouncing the New York Court of Appeals for their decision to rule the workmen's compensation act unconstitutional. States that their conduct was, " ... a most flagrant and wanton abuse of a great power." Conveys his views on how the Court should be run, "My plea is for rational growth; my plea is that the court act with ordinary statesmanship, ordinary regard for the Constitution, as a living aid to growth, not as a straight jacket; ordinary regard for the laws, the rights of humanity, and the growth of…

GLC06422

6 November 1813

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Thomas Law

Response to a letter and memorial from Maryland and District of Columbia attorney Law, a supporter of monetary reform. Supports Law's proposal for the issuance of treasury notes bearing interest. These "would soon be withdrawn from the circulation and locked up in vaults and private hoards. I would put it in the power of every man to lend his 100 or 1000D." Opposes a national bank because "Congress has not that power, (altho' I sincerely wish they had it exclusively)." With incomplete address leaf on verso.

GLC06478

1790/04/23

Gates, Horatio, 1727-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jonathan Trumbull

Complains that the House is wasting constituents' money by spending too long debating measures. Says that he foresaw the trouble created by the debate over the federal assumption of state debts. Despite quarrels, still thinks "the permanence of the Federal Government depends almost entirely on the Assumption."

GLC06658

1797/10/24

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Rev. Dr. Walter re: Europe's political strife, system of checks and balances

Some edge losses at top right, affecting a few letters. A rare letter, written as president, commenting on his writings on government, and their influence on the Federal constitution and his depair over Europe's political and military strife. He thanks Dr. Walter for sending two volumes of essays from Count Rumford and then elaborates of his system (in his book Defense of the Constitutions of the United States) of checks and balances between an executive and legislative branch. He writes in part that the three volumes of the Defense "were written with a view of not only compassing the…

GLC06666

1787/09/19

Constitutional Convention, 1787

Newspaper

Title: Pennsylvania packet and daily advertiser. [No. 2690 (September 19, 1787)]

First printing of the Constitution in a newspaper. This version, printed by Dunlap and Claypoole, the same who had printed the draft versions of the Constitution meant for private use by delegates at the Constitutional Convention.

GLC06688

1856/10/25

Miller, Daniel L., fl. 1856

Broadside

Title: One Hundred Dollars Reward. Shall extension of slavery be prohibited? [election]

A comparison of Democratic Buchanan/Breckinridge platform to Republican Fremont/Dayton platform with historical background. Prints quotations from Jefferson, Washington, Madison, Polk, and the Constitution. For anyone who can disprove the statements in the broadside, the author offers: "One hundred dollars reward. Let every voter examine and judge for himself!" Poses the question: "Has Congress the Constitutional right to prohibit slavery and polygamy in the territories" and offers the candidates views on the issues.

GLC06814