gress has already, at considerable expense, published in a variety of forms, the naked journals of the Revolutionary Congress, and of the Convention that formed the Constitution of the United States. I am persuaded that the work of Mr. MADISON, considering the author, the subject matter of it, and the circumstances under which it was prepared-long withheld from the public, as it has been, by those motives of personal kindness and delicacy that gave tone to his intercourse with his fellow-men, until he and all who had been participators with him in the scenes he describes have passed away - well deserves to become the property of the nation, and cannot fail, if published and disseminated at the public charge, to confer the most important of all benefits on the present and succeeding generations, accurate knowledge of the principles of their Government, and the circumstances under which they were recommended and embodied in the constitution, for adoption. ANDREW JACKSON." The message of the President was referred to the Joint Library Committee, who, on the 24th January, 1837, reported a resolution authorizing that committee "to contract for and purchase, at the sum of thirty thousand dollars, the manuscripts of the late Mr. MADISON, conceding to Mrs. MADISON the right to use copies of the said manuscripts in foreign countries, as she might think fit." On the 9th July the House of Representatives, after having had under consideration the resolution of the Senate, amended it by changing it into an act, in which form, it was passed, and being concurred in by the Senate and approved by the President on the same day, became a law in the following terms: "An act authorizing the printing of the Madison Papers. "Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Joint Committee on the Library be authorized to cause the MADISON PAPERS to be printed and published; and that a sum not exceeding five thousand dollars be appropriated for that purpose out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated." On the 28th January, 1839, Mr. WALL of New Jersey, reported to the Senate, a contract made in pursuance of the act of Congress, by Messrs. ROBBINS of Rhode Island, and POPE of Kentucky, the Chairmen of the Joint Library Committee for the publication of the work in its present form, to be executed under the superintendance of Mr. GILPIN, the Solicitor of the Treasury. For this purpose, one of the duplicate manuscript copies, deposited by Mrs. MADISON, was withdrawn by the Library Committee from the Department of State, and delivered to the publishers. In the publication thus directed it has been deemed to be a primary and indispensable duty to follow the manuscript with scrupulous care. It was not thought proper to admit any note or comment, even explanatory; and all those that are found, were in the manuscript deposited in the Department of State. No alteration of any sort from the copy furnished and revised by Mrs. MADISON, has been permitted, except the correction of a few slight and evident clerical errors, and the insertion of some dates and formal parts of official documents, for which blanks had been left. CONTENTS. DEBATES IN THE FEDERAL CONVENTION, FROM Confederacies-Meeting of Colonial Deputies at Albany, in 1754 — Congress of 1774-Declaration of Independence-Articles of Con- federation-Difficulties arising from the public lands, and duties on foreign commerce - Want of a permanent revenue-Resolution of Virginia for a Convention-Meeting of the Convention at An- napolis, in 1786-Recommends Federal Convention-Proceedings of Virginia and other States-Previous suggestions for a Conven- tion by Pelatiah Webster, General Schuyler, Alexander Hamilton, Richard H. Lee, and Noah Webster-Defects to be provided for by a Constitution-Mr. Madison's sketch-Meeting of Federal Convention in 1787 — Manner in which the Reports of the Debates Organization of Convention-General Washington chosen Presi- dent, and Major Jackson Secretary — Delaware credentials-Com- Additional rules - Keeping of minutes-Convention goes into Com- mittee of the Whole-Mr. Randolph submits fifteen propositions- His remarks-Propositions stated-Mr. Charles Pinckney submits Mr. Randolph's first proposition withdrawn, and a substitute offer- ed-The proposed government to be National, and to consist of a Legislature, Executive, and Judiciary. Mr. Randolph's second proposition-The right of suffrage in the National Legislature, to be proportioned to the quotas of contribu- tion, or the number of free inhabitants as is best in different cases 7 Mr. Randolph's third proposition-The National Legislature to have two branches - Agreed to. Mr. Randolph's fourth proposition-First branch of the National Legislature to be elected by the people- Agreed to-Qualifications Mr. Randolph's fifth proposition-Second branch of the National Mr. Randolph's sixth Proposition-Powers of the National Leg- Mr. Randolph's seventh proposition-The National Executive to possess the Executive powers of the Congress of the Confedera- tion-Amended, to possess power to execute the National laws, and appoint to offices not otherwise provided for-Amendment agreed to-To be chosen for a term of years-Amended, for seven years-Amendment agreed to-To be chosen by the National Mr. Randolph's seventh proposition-The National Executive to be chosen by the National Legislature, resumed-Agreed to-To receive fixed compensation-Amended, to receive no salary, but ex- penses to be defrayed - Amendment postponed -To be ineligible a second time-Amended, to be removable on impeachment-Clause Mr. Randolph's eighth proposition-A Council of Revision, to consist of the National Executive, and a convenient number of the National Judiciary, to have a negative on acts of National Legisla- ture unless again passed by Members of each branch - Amended, to give the National Executive alone that power, unless overruled by two-thirds of each branch of the National Legislature - Amend- Mr. Randolph's ninth proposition-The National Judiciary to be |