The Online Library of Liberty

A project of Liberty Fund, Inc.

• Debates In the Convention of the State of North Carolina, On the Adoption of the Federal Constitution.
• Debates In the Legislature and In Convention of the State of South Carolina, On the Adoption of the Federal Constitution.
• Delegates to the Congress of 1765.
• Opinions, Selected From Debates In Congress, From 1789 to 1836, Involving Constitutional Principles.
• Virginia Resolutions of 1798, Pronouncing the Alien and Sedition Laws to Be Unconstitutional, and Defining the Rights of the States.
• Answers of the Several State Legislatures.
• Kentucky Resolutions of 1798 and 1799. [the Original Draft Prepared By Thomas Jefferson.]
• Madison’s Report On the Virginia Resolutions.
• President Jackson’s Proclamation, of the 10th December, 1833, Concerning the Ordinance of South Carolina. On the Subject of the Tariff, On the 24th November, 1832.
• Madison On the Tariff.
• Ideas of Mr. Jefferson On Banks; Referred to By Mr. Madison In the Preceding Letter.
• Letter of Mr. Madison to Mr. Stevenson, Dated 27th November, 1830, Examining the Origin and Progress of the Clause of the Constitution “ to Pay the Debts, and Provide For the Common Defence, &c.”
• Hamilton’s Argument On the Constitutionality of a Bank of the United States.
• A Short History of the Veto. *
• Digest of Decisions In the Courts of the Union, Involving Constitutional Principles.

Delegates to the Congress of 1765.

Massachusetts, 3 — James Otis, Oliver Partridge, Timothy Ruggles.

Rhode Island, 2 — Metcalf Bowler, Henry Ward.

Connecticut, 3 — Eliphalet Dyer, David Rowland, William S. Johnston.

New York, 5 — Robert R. Livingston, John Cruger, Philip Livingston, William Bayard, Leonard Lispenard.

New Jersey, 3 — Robert Ogden, Hendrick Fisher, Joseph Borden.

Pennsylvania, 3 — John Dickinson, John Morton, George Bryan.

Delaware, 3 — Jacob Kolloch, Thomas M’Kean, Cæsar Rodney.

Maryland, 3 — William Murdock, Edward Tilghman, Thomas Ringgold.

South Carolina, 3 — Thomas Lynch, Christopher Gadsden, John Rutledge.

Nine colonies, and twenty-eight delegates.

Extract from the official Journal of the Congress of 1765.

Met in New York, on Monday, 7th of October, 1765. After having examined and admitted the certificates of appointment of the above members, the said committees proceeded to choose a chairman by ballot; and Timothy Ruggres, Esq., of Massachusetts, on sorting and counting the votes, appeared to have a majority, and thereupon was placed in the chair.

Resolved, nem. con., That John Cotton be clerk to this Congress, during the continuance thereof.

Resolved, That the committee of each colony shall have one voice only, in determining any questions that shall arise in the Congress.

After meeting regularly every day, with the exception of the Sabbath, they concurred in a declaration of the rights and grievances of America, and appointed the following committees, on Saturday, 19th October, 1765: —

It is to be regretted that the few speeches here published constitute all of the able debates in the South Carolina Convention which could be procured. The discussion commenced on the 14th of May, and, it is understood, was continued with brilliancy eight days; Judge Burke, Mr. Bowman, Dr. Fayssoux, and others, disclosing the abuses and misconstructions of which the Constitution was susceptible; Judge Pendleton, General Pinckney, and Hon. J. Pringle, among many other distinguished members, enforcing the expediency and necessity of its adoption.

“This acceptance and ratification was not without opposition. In addition to the common objections which had been urged against the Constitution, South Carolina had some local reasons for refusing, or at least delaying, a final vote on the question. Doubts were entertained of the acceptance of the Constitution by Virginia. To gain time till the determination of that leading state was known, a motion for postponement was brought forward. This, after an animated debate, was overruled by a majority of 46. The rejection of it was considered as decisive in favor of the Constitution. When the result of the vote was announced, an event unexampled in the annals of Carolina took place. Strong and involuntary expressions of applause and joy burst forth from the numerous transported spectators. The minority complained of disrespect; unpleasant consequences were anticipated. The majority joined with the complaining members in clearing the house, and in the most delicate manner soothed their feelings. In the true style of republicanism, the minority not only acquiesced, but heartily joined in supporting the determination of the majority. The Constitution went into operation with general consent, and has ever since been strictly observed.” — Ramsay’s History of South Carolina, vol. ii. p. 432.