A

HISTORY AND ANALYSIS

OF THE

CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES,

WITH

A FULL ACCOUNT OF THE CONFEDERATIONS WHICH PRECEDED IT;
OF THE DEBATES AND ACTS OF THE CONVENTION WHICH FORMED IT;

OF THE JUDICIAL DECISIONS WHICH HAVE CONSTRUED IT;

WITH PAPERS AND TABLES ILLUSTRATIVE OF THE ACTION OF THE GOVERN-
MENT AND THE PEOPLE UNDER IT.

BY

NATHANIEL C. TOWLE,

COUNSELLOR AT LAW, WASHINGTON, D. C.

SECOND EDITION.

BOSTON:

LITTLE, BROWN AND COMPANY.

Fronsferred from
Hestary Beading

JAN 21 1915

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1860, by

N. C. TOWLE,

In the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the District of Columbia.

CAMBRIDGE:

Allen and Farnham, Stereotypers and Printers.

PREFACE.

I PRESENT to the citizens of the United States an account of the proceedings which established the political institutions, from which have originated, and by which are maintained, their freedom and their prosperity. I purpose to show how, by a movement at first almost imperceptible, but increasing in the progress of time, until it assumed the attitude of independence, the Colonies of America became a Confederation, and finally a republic of States. I intend to exhibit the results of the deliberations of every convention or congress of the colonies and States, from that which assembled at Boston within the first half century of their settlement, to that which, in 1787, finally established the basis of our government. My object is not so much to give a detailed history of each particular step of our national progress, as to familiarize the people with the original principles of the government under which they now live. I endeavor to do this by offering to the public such a statement of the origin of our Constitution, and of the confederations, conventions, judicial decisions, and other papers which relate to its adoption and practical operation, as will convey a