2 October 1861

Holden, William Woods, 1818-1892

Newspaper

Title: Semi-weekly standard. [Vol. 11, no. 87 (October 2, 1861)]

Important News from Western Virginia, Great Battle at Lexington, Missouri. The Confiscation Bill of 30 August is printed here, discussing rights and acts of the Confederacy. A Confederate tax bill is also included, with special attention to the details of taxes, collections, appropriations, etc. Articles examine the impact of war, while others examine the implications of free speech and free press.

GLC05959.23.07

1789/12/30

Fenno, John, 1751-1798

Newspaper

Title: Gazette of the United States. [No. LXXV (December 30, 1789)]

Prints a Declaration of Rights that the Committee of the Convention proposed to add to the Constitution. Reports North Carolina's ratification of the Constitution. Reports on the French Revolution. Also contains news from around the country, an article on land tax, a report on the proceedings of the congress, and advertisements, among them one for the Ohio Company.

GLC08782

1799/01/10

Smith, Samuel Harrison, 1772-1845

Newspaper

Title: The universal gazette. [Vol. I no. 61 (January 10, 1799)]

Reports a resolution passed by the Virginia legislation labeling the alien and sedition acts unconstitutional. Recounts activities in Congress relating to the quasi war with France and part of a debate in the House of Representatives. Contains news from around the country and Europe, advertisements, and an article by George Logan in which he defends his reputation.

GLC08787

1789/07/01

Edies and Willcocks, 1789-1800

Newspaper

Title: The Pennsylvania herald, and York general advertiser. [Vol. I, no. 26 (July 1, 1789)]

Reports on activities in the House of Representatives, which focus on James Madison's proposed amendments to the Constitution. Also includes dispatches from around the United States and various advertisements.

GLC08842

1788 ca.

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Autograph manuscript

Title: Draft of address to Mass. Legislature after ratification of the Constitution

Discusses the new form of government and reminds legislators of their desire for a Bill of Rights.

GLC01559

1790/02/20

Martin, Alexander, fl. 1790

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Gov. S.C. re: transmitting proposed constitutional amendments

GLC02470.24

1779/11/04

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Benjamin Rush

Adams believes that there should be an article in the Declaration of Rights securing free speech, impartiality and independence at the bar because everyone deserves a fair trial. He also discusses his recent appointment and that of Mr. Dana.

GLC06016

1788/02/16

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Sullivan

Transmits a copy of the proceedings of the Massachusetts ratifying convention for the Constitution. Notes that the Convention recommended amendments and alterations to the Constitution.

GLC04362

1789/05/05

Clinton, George, 1739-1812

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel Huntington

The governor of New York sends to the governor of Connecticut the New York legislature's proposed amendments to the Constitution (not included). Asks that this draft of the Bill of Rights be circulated in the Connecticut legislature.

GLC04767

1788 ca.

Manuscript document

Title: Proposed amendments to the Constitution

This document, in a contemporary hand, compiles and compares the proposals of several states. Many of the proposals are in the form substantially used in the Bill of Rights.

GLC04770

1788/02/20

Stewart, Walter, 1756-1796

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Irvine re: opposition to Constitution

Stewart writes to Irvine, a Penna. delegate to the Continental Congress: "It is expected by the Anti-Federal Party that very extensive Petitions will be laid before them against the new Constitution. I however think they have abated much in their Warmth since they see Massachusetts have come to it. [....] And they [the Anti-Federalists] at last say they think amendments may probably be made. I sincerely hope they will, as it would be a means of reconciling all Party's, and enable us to carry it through; Without them, the opposition will be so powerful as to clog its execution in too large a…

GLC04844

1791/03/11

Van Schaack, Henry, 1733-1823

Autograph letter

Title: to unknown [incomplete]

Writes at length on the relationship between church and state, particularly in regard to unconstitutional tax assessment and the use of public funds to build a Congregational meeting house in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. Discusses the Constitution, referring to the second article of the Bill of Rights as it pertains to religion, and his memory of debates at the Constitutional Convention.

GLC07160.01

1791/12

Van Schaack, Henry, 1733-1823

Autograph letter

Title: to Loring Andrews

Writes a letter to the editor of the Western Star to condemn the practice of using public funds to pay for parish teachers linked to denominational majorities. Such taxation and town treasury appropriations, he charges, violate the constitutional protections of minority denominations. Grounds his objection in the Massachusetts constitution and its Bill of Rights.

GLC07160.04

1790/01/02

Fenno, John, 1751-1798

Newspaper

Title: Gazette of the United States. [No. 76 (January 2, 1790)]

re: urging ratification of Bill of Rights in Virginia; "an act providing for the expenses which may attend negotiations with Indian tribes ..." etc.

GLC07268

1789/10/02

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Letter signed

Title: To: Samuel Huntington

Forwarding proposed Bill of Rights for ratification to Governor of CT. with Huntington docket on verso.

GLC07973

1789/09/09

The Constitution of the United States

Newspaper

Title: Essex Journal and New Hampshire packet. [No. 271 (September 9, 1789)]

Scarce newspaper printing of the seventeen amendments introduced by James Madison in the first Congress. Includes proceedings of Congress, introducing the amendments. The name "Mr. John Adams" has been inscribed in the left hand margin of the front page. Brigham 1: 375.

GLC06766

1803/10/17

Pickering, Timothy, 1745-1829

Autograph document

Title: [Speech in favor of the twelfth amendment]

Pickering argues that the proposed twelfth amendment, which would reform the Electoral College, would help realize the intent of the framers and give the Constitution "stability and duration." Referring to the contentious, drawn-out presidential election of 1800, he asks who would have answered for the consequences, if a president had not been elected by March 4th, and the Constitution had thus run out. He notes that the framers expected amendments, and points out that "it is a well known fact that the amendments already incorporated into the constitution have greatly increased its friends."…

GLC05321.02

1837/03/18

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Adams Green and Edward Butler Osborne

Abolition of slavery and the right to petition

GLC07693.01

1837/03/20

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Autograph manuscript signed

Title: To the Inhabitants of the 12th Congressional District of Massachusetts

GLC07693.02

1836/04/04

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Solomon Lincoln Esq.

Pontificating on the history and intentions of the Pilgrims and the Founding Fathers, and on the important principles to be learned from America's collective history. Also giving his views on freedom of religion and freedom of speech and the limits that should be put upon them;. also frankly discussing his ambiguous feelings about the issue of slavery. In part: "I would not undertake to say that the one hundred and one Germans of the compact on board the Mayflower, had all, or any of them, a conception of the consequences to the human race, of their emigration from Leyden; any more than…

GLC07868

1789/06/13

Fenno, John, 1751-1798

Newspaper

Title: Gazette of the United States. [No. 18 (June 13, 1789)]

Contains "amendments to the New Constitution proposed by the Hon. Mr. Maddison," the future Bill of Rights. Disbound.

GLC06958

1789/08/26

Russell, Benjamin, 1761-1845

Newspaper

Title: The Massachusetts centinel. [Vol. XI, no. 47 (August 26, 1789)]

Gives detailed report of recent debates in House of Representatives (August 14 and 15) regarding seventeen proposed amendments to the Constitution (a Bill of Rights). Also includes international news, letters from readers, ship news, advertisements, and other miscellaneous news items.

GLC03129