CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

Occurrences incident to the Act of Confederation-Jefferson's

notes of the debates on the Confederation-Mr. Chase's mo-

tion in reference to white inhabitants-"White inhabitants"

Slaves-Negroes not considered members of the State-

Mr. Adams on the same subject-Free and slave labor con-

trasted-Mr. Harrison's compromise, that two slaves should

be counted as one freeman, and remarks thereon-Mr. Wilson

against slavery - Mr. Payne's remarks-Dr Witherspoon

against tax on slaves-Mr. Chase on the subject of each

colony having one vote in Congress-Dr. Franklin, Dr. With-

erspoon, Mr. Adams, Dr. Rush, Mr. Hopkins, Mr. Wilson, on

the same subject-Ratification, and the Articles of Confede-

ration.....
Page 21-43.

CHAPTER II.

The causes which led to the formation of the Constitution and

wherein the Articles of Confederation were deficient for the

purpose of a government, by Mr. Madison-Appointment of

delegates to form a Constitution-Organization of the con-

vention-Resolutions of Mr. Randolph, which became the

basis of the Constitution-Mr. Madison, on the equality of

suffrage-Speech of Alexander Hamilton, advocating mo-

narchical government; also plan of government submitted by

him-Discussion continued-Angry discussion between Mr.

Madison, Mr. Martin, and others-Dr. Franklin proposes

prayer at the opening of the session-His remarks thereon-

Mr. Randolph proposes a sermon on the 4th of July-Pro-

position to adjourn sine die-Discussion continued-Report

of committee on the construction of Congress-Three-fifths

slaves included in representation-Concession of the small

States that the House should originate all money bills, in

consideration that they should have an equal representation

in the Senate-Debate thereon-Mr. Madison's compromise-

Further debate on slave representation, and vote-Debate

on equality of votes in the Senate-Report of the Committee

of the whole House on Mr. Randolph's resolutions—The

resolutions as reported-Mr. Rutledge's report from the com-

mittee of detail-Discussion thereon by Mr. Madison, Dr.

Franklin, and others-Mr. Madison's proposition to give

Congress power to institute temporary governments for the

territories-Lengthy debate on slavery and the slave trade-

Mr. Madison's proposition to give Congress power to in-

stitute territorial governments struck out-Mr. Livingston's

report on the importation of slaves-Discussion and vote

thereon-Fugitive slaves-"Needful rules and regulations

respecting the territory," etc.-Report of the Constitution by

the committee of revision-The Constitution as reported and

adopted-Official letter to Congress-Articles of amendment

-When adopted.....
Page 44-114.

CHAPTER III.

Debates in the convention of Massachusetts-Rev. Mr. Backus,
on the religious test, and the importation of slaves-Mr.
Dawes' remarks on slaves, and importation of-Gen. Heath,
ditto; his remarks on the adoption of the Federal Constitu-
tion-Mr. King's remarks on representation and taxation-
Debate in the convention of the State of New York-Mr.
Hamilton's remarks on navigation, commerce, and slave rep-
resentation-Debate in the convention of the State of Con-
necticut-Mr. Ellsworth's remarks on the necessity of a Union,
and the consequences of disunion-Debate in the convention
of Virginia-Objections to the Constitution answered by Mr.
Nicholas Powers of the government-Mr. Mason in op-
position to the slave trade Mr. Madison on the same; and
in reference to fugitive slaves-He prefers union with slavery
to disunion without it Mr. Tyler against the slave trade-

Patrick Henry on the powers of Congress-Fugitive slaves—

Mr. Nicholas on slavery-Mr. Henry replies-Three-fifths of

the negroes represented Mr. Mason on negro taxes-Mr.

Madison's reply-Mr. Henry against emancipation--Gov.

Randolph on the same subject-Debate in the convention

of North Carolina-Mr. Goudy against negro taxation-

Negroes property-Mr. Davie-Mr. Spaight explains the

views of the Federal Convention-Mr. Iredell on slavery and

the slave trade-Mr. Galloway, Mr. Iredell and others, con-

tinue the discussion-Debate in the convention of South

Carolina-Mr. Lowndes on slavery and the slave trade-

Judge Pendleton, Mr. Rutledge, and Mr. Pinckney, on the

same subject.....
........Page 115–154.

CHAPTER IV.

History of the Ordinance of 1787, by Peter Force, Esq., com-

piler of the American Archives, by authority of Con-

gress...
Page 155-178

CHAPTER V.

Memorial of the Pennsylvania Abolition Society to Congress on

the slave trade, and proceedings thereon, 1790.. Page 179-183

CHAPTER VI.

Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions of 1798, drawn by Messrs.

Madison and Jefferson.....

.Page 184-194.

CHAPTER VII.

The Missouri question in Congress, 1820-Slavery restriction

offered by Mr. Storrs, of New York--Mr. Meiggs opposed-

Mr. Holmes' speech on-Mr. Smyth, Mr. Reid, Mr. Scott,

Mr. Tucker, and Mr. Stevens on--Col. Richard M. Johnson

in the Senate on-Mr. Pinckney, a member of the Federal

Convention that framed the Constitution, on the power of

Congress to restrict slavery-Mr. Whiteman, Mr. Shaw, Mr.

Holmes, and Mr. Barber, on the same subject-Ex-

Page 195-282.

tracts.....

CHAPTER VIII.

Extracts from a letter from Mr. Madison to President Monroe,

on the Missouri restriction-Same in reply to Mr. Monroe-

Mr. Madison on the Ordinance of 1787-Draft of a veto by

Mr. Monroe on the bill establishing the Missouri Compro-

mise line-Extracts from several letters of Mr. Jefferson on

the Missouri restriction-Extract from a letter of Gen.

Harrison (afterward President) to Mr. Monroe on the same

subject......
.Page 283-292.

CHAPTER IX

Fugitive slaves-Ordinance of 1787--The Constitution-Act

of 1793-Letters of Messrs. Marcy and Seward in favor of

allowing owners to hold slaves nine months in the State of

New York......

Page 293-306.

CHAPTER X.

...

Slavery in the District of Columbia in 1831, 1835, and 1836-

Remarks of John Quincy Adams, Silas Wright, and James

Buchanan on-Mr. Benton's views.... ...Page 307-320.

CHAPTER XI.

Agitation of slavery in the House of Representatives, in 1839,

and retiring of Southern members from the hall—" The Gag-

Rule," and vote thereon-Extract from Mr. Clay's speech in

the Senate.......

CHAPTER XII.

...Page 321-348.

Resolution of Mr. Calhoun in 1847, and remarks on, Extract-

Extract from Mr. Calhoun's speech in 1848-Resolution of

Daniel S. Dickinson, and remarks thereon, Extract, 1848-

Extracts from the speeches of Henry Clay, Daniel Webster,

John C. Calhoun, Gen. Cass, and Gen. Houston, of the

Senate, on the Compromise Resolutions of Mr. Clay, in 1850

-Also Extracts from the speeches of Mr. Tombs, of Georgia,

Mr. Butler and Mr. Ross, of Pennsylvania, of the House of

Representatives, on the same subject-Also Extract from

"Southern Address."..
..Page 349–387.

CHAPTER XIII.

The Dred Scott decision-Extracts from the opinions of the

Court-Extract from the opinion of the Pennsylvania Su-

preme Court in 1837, that a negro cannot be a citizen-Prigg

vs. the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, by Judge Story,

Extract...
...Page 388-408.

CHAPTER XIV.

Inaugural Addresses of Washington, Adams, Jefferson, and

Madison, and the Farewell Addresses of Washington and

Jackson....
.Page 409-480.

CHAPTER XV.

Repeal of the Missouri Compromise and organization of the

Territories of Kansas and Nebraska in 1854... Page 481-487.

CHAPTER XVI.

National Conventions--Platforms of the various parties on the

subject of slavery, from 1848 to 1860.......... Page 488-495.