Transcriber's Note: In text file only, superscripts (located in the Appendix) have been enclosed in curly brackets {}. Remaining transcriber's notes are at the end of the text. * * * * * HISTORY OF THE ORIGIN, FORMATION, AND ADOPTION OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES; WITH NOTICES OF ITS PRINCIPAL FRAMERS. BY GEORGE TICKNOR CURTIS. IN TWO VOLUMES. VOLUME II. NEW YORK: HARPER AND BROTHERS, FRANKLIN SQUARE. 1858. Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1858, by GEORGE T. CURTIS, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of Massachusetts. CONTENTS OF VOLUME SECOND. BOOK IV. FORMATION OF THE CONSTITUTION. CHAPTER I. PRELIMINARY CONSIDERATIONS.--ORGANIZATION OF THE CONVENTION.--POSITION OF THE STATES.--RULE OF INVESTIGATION. Page Explanation of the Author's Plan 3, 4 Preservation of Republican Government 5-7 Nature of American Freedom 7-9 Its Dependence upon the Union 9, 10 Intention of the Framers of the Constitution 11 Hamilton's Purposes 11 The Confederation officially condemned 11, 12 Purposes of the States 12 The declared Objects of the Convention 13 Nature of the previous Union 14, 15 General Purpose of the People 16 Powers of the Convention 17 Opposite Views of the Members 18 Presence of Slavery in the States 19, 20 The Slaves in some Form to be considered 20-22 How they were regarded under the Confederation 21 Complex Relations of the Subject 22 All the States but one represented in Convention 23 Absence of Rhode Island 24, 25 Application of the Minority of Rhode Island 25, 26 Position of the States in Convention 27, 28 Reserved Authority of the People 28, 29 Present Importance of the Process of forming the Constitution 29 Cautions to be used in Interpretation 30 CHAPTER II.