FROM JUDGE WAYNE, ASSOCIATE JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES.

you.

use any

you would

Permit me to make a suggestion.* It is, that add to the edition, intended for distribution by the Senate, a state. ment 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 find, by any one. I am, Sear Sir, with

can

great regard,

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, compilation is, not only a convenient book of reference, but

me

the

an

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.

move.

invaluable compendium of political statistics for every day's use. The arrangement is an excellent one. In the United States, 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 but I am happy to give my testimony in favour of the merits of his production. With

me,

Col. Hickey.

great respect,

Sir,

Your obedient servant,

John B. Gibson.

FROM THE JUDGE OF THE DISTRICT COURT OF THE UNITED STATES FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA.

Dear Sir,

as

I have looked through the little volume which has been prepared, I understand, under your charge, and I have really been surprised to find, in so compact a form, form, so many 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 bears proofs of care and skill. The several docu. ments 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

and shall,

no

acccs.

obliged to you for the copy which has been sent to me,
doubt, have frequent use for it.
Very respectfully, yours,
J. K. Kane.

Col. Hickey.

Philad. 3 Mar. 1847.

FROM THE HONORABLE SIDNEY BREESE, SENATOR OF THE

UNITED STATES.

Washington, March 6, 1847.

great care, your

be

co.

My Dear Sir,
I have examined, with
edition of the Con.
stitution of the United States, and I must be permitted to ex-
press my approval of the plan and of the merits of the work.
I do hope it will have a very extensive demand that the state
legislatures will patronize it, and that its circulation
may
extensive with the limits of our Union. It is a lamentable faci,
that the Constitution of the United States—that most honored
work of the patriots and of the Revolution has not yet
had a general circulation. I hope it be introduced into
our schools, academics, and all our seminaries of learning, and
studied to be understood. fou, sir, are entitled to great credit
for the care and ability you have shown in preparing the present
edition. I hope you and the country will profit by it.

sages

may

Col. W. Hickey.

af'is,
is, very truly,
Sidney Breese.

FROM THE CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE
UNITED STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

Wm. Tickey, Esq.

Washington, D. C., Ap., 8, 1847.

Dear Sir,

am

requested by my brethren on the bench of the Circuit Court of the District of Columbia to thank you for your new and corrected edition of the Constitution of the United States, which you have kindly sent to them, and for the valuable statistic information annexed to it; and espe. cially for the laborious and very particular inalysis which you have made of the Constitution, and for the correction of the

errors in punctuation, as well as in the text, which discovered in the former editions.

your copy

you

has been

have

com.

The Judges have not had time to examine the text very carefully; but, from the partial examination they have had time to make, and the great care with which pared with the original in the Department of State, they believe it to be the most correct copy extant, and they will be useful to all classes of society.

With great respect, I am, d'r Sir,

have

Your obed't serv't,

по

doubt it

W. Cranch.

FROM THE HONORABLE SILAS WRIGHT, LATE GOVERNOR OF

NEW YORK-FORMERLY SENATOR IN CONGRESS.

My dear Sir,

Canton, 9 April, 1847.

you for the

I thank copy of your edition of the Constitution of the United States, with your copious index. The design, and the manner of its execution, are alike creditable to I anticipate a wide circulation of the little volume, and great usefulness to our free institutions from it.

you,

and

Many of the editions of the Constitution of the United States, in most common circulation, are very carelessly printed, with frequent erroneous punctuation, often increasing the doubts as to the true construction of the paragraphs. An edition, therefore, known to be correctly published, is of great value. Your copious analytical index, however, constitutes the real value of your book. If studied faithfully, and by an unbiassed mind, it will lead it to read the Constitution practically, and to understand it as it is. Referring, as the analysis does, every provision and clause to its practical application in the affairs of the government, it cannot fail to have a natural and powerful

tendency towards a strict construction of the instrument in the mind of the scholar, the only construction of the Constitution safe to our free institutions and to the Constitution itself.

can

one, familiar with the affairs of our government, have failed to notice how large a proportion of our statesmen appear never to have read the Constitution of the United States with a careful reference to its precise language and exact provisions, but rather, as occasion presents, seem to exercise their ingenuity, unfortunately too often powerful and powerfully exerted, to stretch both to the line of what they, at the moment, consider expedient. A reference to a careful, perfect, and full analysis of that instrument, and of the grants of power really found in it, cannot fail to exert a strong and salutary influence upon such

minds.

It is, however, upon the mind of the student and the rising generation of our country that I anticipate the widely extended useful influence of your book. If it shall be, as I hope it may, introduced as a class-book in our schools, it cannot fail soon to produce a more sound and correct and uniform under. standing of the Constitution as it is, than has hitherto prevailed in our country.

may

our

It has long been a favorite wish of mine, as to this state, that our public laws of universal interest be, by Legisla. ture, distributed to our common schools in a form to be made a class-book for the more advanced scholars, that the current legis. lation of the state may be early and thoroughly understood by those who are to be the voters of the state. Your book suggests the addition of the Constitution of the State, with a full index, such as that have prepared for the Federal Constitution, as a permanent class-book to precede the study of the current laws; and, if your Constitution and the laws of Congress of a general character and universal publio interest could be connected with the course of study, I do not

you