COMMUNICATIONS. FROM THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES AND My Dear Sir, which you Washington, 18 Feb. 1847. exa. The volume on "The Constitution of the United States,' were kind enough to send me, I have carefully mined, and must now beg you to accept my warm thanks for the compliment of its dedication and for the admirable character of its contents. It is, without exception, the best designed, fullest, neatest, and most accurate manual and guide in relation to the great instrument of which it exclusively treats, that I have seen. culation. can yet It deserves, and I hope it will receive, universal cir a The Constitution is an object to which no American mind be too attentive, and no American heart too devoted. Or. parts, provisions, or phrases, it is still and always will be pos. sible for ingenuity to raise constructive doubts: but, on the whole, as the organic chart of a limited confederated government, practical trial of nearly sixty years would seem to place its wis. dom and efficiency beyond dispute or rivalry. And, although it is not unusual to hear it said, at moments of heat and disappointment, that, in the enactment or administration of our federal laws, the obligations of the Constitution are disregarded, servation and experience of more than thirty years convince mo and I reverse; satisfied that its hold science and the opinion of the country at large is constantly of the am upon an ob. the con strengthening. This is, indeed, the natural result of its perfect fitness to produce the purposes for which it was designed-union, justice, tranquillity, defence, welfare, and liberty! — and proves how well its practical operations harmonize with the business, sentiments, relations, and progress of the American people. Restless and innovating as we are in most things, invaded, and I do not think we shall invade for centuries to come, the sacred stability of the Constitution. we have not Such a fundamental and paramount law, in the picture of its origin and in the purity of its text, should be placed within the reach of every freeman. It should be found wherever there is a capacity to read: not alone in legislative halls, judicial councils, libraries, and colleges, but also in the cabins and steerages of our mariners, at every common-school, log-hut, fac tory, or fireside. fireside. It should form the rudimental basis of American thought, by being made a perpetually recurring object of memory. Your book enters upon the attainment of these promisingly than any of whose existence I am aware. Its "Analysis" is singularly interesting and useful; while its aims more tabular statements and historical records constitute most valuable examples of compression and precision. The Senate of the United States, forcibly struck by its merits, gave their cordial sanction to its extensive dissemination; and, indeed, it would be hard, if not impossible, to devise a better mode of enlightening and purifying public opinion as to the necessary powers, duties, and responsibilities of all the functionaries of the General Government, the limits of their agency, and the conciliatory spirit of the vast system to which they belong. Dear Sir, very truly, FROM THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES. Dear Sir, Washington City, Feb’y 19, 1847. I have to thank you for a very neatly published copy of the Constitution of the United States. So far as I have examined the form in which the publication is made, it is decidedly the most perfect of any I have ever seen. The various and valu able information contained in your book-other than the Constitution is of great value. The whole work is just such an one ought to be found in the library of every citizen in the country. Very respectfully, your ob't serv't, as Wm. Hickey, Esq. Jno. W. Davis. FROM THE CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT OF THE thank UNITED STATES. Washington, March 3, 1847. am directed by the Justices of the Supreme Court to for your you for States, which you edition of the Constitution of the United have been good enough to send them, and to express their approbation of the manner in which the work has been executed. The care with which it has been compared with the original, and the evidence you have furnished of its perfect accuracy, will make it very valuable in the discussion of questions arising upon the construction of the Constitution; and, in order that, on such occasions, it may always be within the reach of the members of the court, and of the bar engaged in the argument, I shall direct the Librarian to purchase twenty-four copies for the Law Library. With great respect, am, W. Hickey, Esq., Washington. Sir, your obed't s't, R. B. Taney. FROM JUDGE WAYNE, ASSOCIATE JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES. Dear Sir, Supreme Court-room, March 3, 1847. I am very much obliged to stitution, and will not, hereafter, you use any edition of the Con other. All of us are It is, that suggestion.* you would much indebted to you. Permit me to make a add to the edition, intended for distribution by the Senate, a statement of the times when the Constitution was adopted by the states, and when new states have been admitted; particularly designating, in the last, such of them as have been admitted upon constitutions formed before there had been any original tion by Congress for admitting them. For reference it would be useful in many discussions, and has not been made, so far can find, by any any one. J Sear Sir, with great regard, am, Your obed't serv't, James M. Wayne. W. Hickey, Esq., Washington. ac. as FROM THE CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT OF PENN Sir, SYLVANIA. Philadelphia, 3d March, 1847. I have attentively perused a recent edition of the Federal Constitution, with a well-digested analysis and other matter ap. pended, "by a citizen;"† and, it gives pleasure to say, the compilation is, not only a convenient book of reference, but an me * In compliance with this friendly suggestion of Judge Wayne, the author has derived much satisfaction in devoting to it the entire 10th chapter of this edition. †The first edition of this book. use. invaluable compendium of political statistics for every day's excellent In the United States, The arrangement is an one. move. it is the duty of every man to take a part in the political ments of the day, and the book ought therefore to be in the hands of the masses: in Pennsylvania, it ought to be a text-book in the common schools. The compiler is personally unknown to me, but I happy to give my testimony in favour of the am merits of his production. With great respect, Sir, Col. Hickey. John B. Gibson. FROM THE JUDGE OF THE DISTRICT COURT OF THE UNITED STATES FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA. Dear Sir, I have looked through the little volume which has been prepared, as I understand, under your charge, and I have really been surprised to find, in so compact a form, so many important subjects of constant reference. The analytical index of topics embraced in the Federal Constitution is well devised, and, so far as I have tested its accuracy, bears proofs of care and skill. The several documents and tables, which form the rest of the book, are judiciously selected from numerous volumes, which are not generally sible, and they present a series of annals of the Constitution, from the first movement towards its formation, in 1786. am сору obliged to you for the and shall, no doubt, have frequent use for it. Col. Hickey. acccs which has been sent to me, J. K. Kane. Very respectfully, yours, Philad. 3 Mar. 1847. |