This book is included in the US Government: Educational, Informational & Motivational section.
Preface
For over ten years the writer has been engaged
in collecting and editing the material available
upon the work of the convention that framed the
constitution of the United States. Collating of
texts is a wearisome and often merely a mechanical
task, but in the process the editor becomes
more or less familiar with the content of the documents.
In the present instance the form in
which the work finally shaped itself required a
knowledge of the proceedings of the convention
not merely as a whole, but from day to day, and
it necessitated a familiarity with the thought and
expressions of the individual members. When to
this was added an acquaintance with the personalities
of the more important delegates, a mental
picture of the convention was formed which developed
into a conviction as to what the delegates
were trying to do and what they actually accomplished.
It is with no idea of attempting the final history
of the formation of the constitution that the
present book is written. If there be any truth
in the epigrammatic definition that "history is
past politics," it is equally true that, in the case
of an institution still existing, history is present
politics as well. So long as it remains the instrument
under which the government of the United
States is conducted, it is doubtful that any one,
any American at least, can write the final word
regarding the framing of our constitution.
Nor is this intended to be a complete history.
It is a brief presentation of the author's personal
interpretation of what took place in the federal
convention. It is merely a sketch in outline, the
details of which each student must fill out
according to his own needs.
This book is founded upon the work the author
has already referred to as edited by himself,
The Records of the Federal Convention (New
Haven, Yale University Press, 1911. 3 vols.)*
In the writing of it scarcely anything else has
been used. The Records are so arranged as to render
most of the citations easily found, and
accordingly, with few exceptions, all footnote
references have been omitted.
During the years that the work of editing and
writing has been in progress, the author has presented
this subject for study to classes, both
graduate and undergraduate, at different institutions.
To the members of those classes who have
endured the exploitation of his pet theories and
ideas, who have themselves suggested new points
of view, and who have stimulated him to his best
efforts, the author would acknowledge his grateful
indebtedness.
Mr. E. Byrne Hackett, in his capacity as
manager of the Yale University Press, has taken
the greatest interest in the mechanical make-up
of this book. In a personal and purely friendly
way he also read the entire manuscript and
made suggestions which resulted in its betterment.
For his co-operation the author is heartily
appreciative.
M. K
New Haven, November 8, 1912.
CONTENTS
Chapter I. The Calling of the Federal Convention
Chapter II. The Convention and Its Members
Chapter III. The Defects of the Confederation
Chapter IV. The Organization of the Convention
Chapter V. The Virginia Plan
Chapter VI. The New Jersey Plan
Chapter VII. The Great Compromise
Chapter VIII. After the Compromise
Chapter IX. The Committee of Detail
Chapter X. Details and Compromises
Chapter XI. The Election of the President
Chapter XII. Finishing the Work
Chapter XIII. The Completed Constitution
APPENDIX I. The Articles of Confederation
APPENDIX II. The Virginia Plan
APPENDIX III. The New Jersey Plan
APPENDIX IV. The Constitution of the United States
APPENDIX V. The Amendments to the Constitution
Index
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