know

our

any thing that would go so far soundly to qualify young men to become freemen, and to discharge the duties of freemen at the polls of our elections so safely to their country and creditably to themselves.

I sincerely hope the publication of your

book

may

lead the

way to some such valuable addition to the education of the young men of the republio.

your

index in

My leisure has not permitted me to examine all its parts as carefully as the subject demands, but the exami nations I have made, together with my knowledge of your accustomed accuracy, and invariable fidelity of intention, induce me to speak with the confidence I do of the whole work. The matter you have connected with the publication of the Constitu tion is pertinent, and such as the student of the instrument ought to be made familiar with, while the lessons of wisdom from the Father of his Country will consecrate the whole to his

memory

and his heart.

young

With the repetition of my thanks for the copy of this work, Very respectfully, and truly, yours,

believe me,

William Hickey, Esq.

Silas Wright.

FROM THE HONORABLE JOHN MACPHERSON BERRIEN, SENATOR OF THE UNITED STATES.

Rockingham, 28th Sept., 1847.

you

you

the

Dear Sir, I examined the copy of "The Constitution" which sent to me on its first publication, and then expressed to favorable opinion which I entertained of the work, from its neatness, its accuracy, and its comprehensiveness. Of the importance of its distribution among all classes of our citizens, I think no one can doubt. It is the fundamental law, that which controls all others—the charter of our liberties, which citizen has a personal interest in understanding thoroughly. I would be

every

every

a

gratified, therefore, to know that citizen was possessed of copy of it, and had made himself familiar with its contents, by frequent and careful perusals of it. This would make him

other citizen;

more perfectly comprehend his own position as a citizen of this great Republic; it would enable him to realize more cordially the intimate relation in which he stands to every and thus its tendency would be to draw closer the fraternal bond which unites us as one people. He would become sensible how much the intelligence and virtue of each individual may promote the happiness of his fellows, and of the corresponding and unhappy influence of ignorance and vice; and this conviction would render him the advocate of all proper measures to enlarge the intelli. gence, and improve the morals, of those with whom he is politi. cally associated. A knowledge of the Constitution, which is for the most part plain and simple in its provisions, would often enable him to spurn indignantly the efforts of demagogues to mislead him, and awaken him to a deeper of gratitude for the privileges which he is permitted to enjoy. It would, in my opinion, be desirable that such a copy of the Constitution as that which you have prepared, should be in pos. session of each judicial tribunal throughout the land, as a standard to which reference may be had with undoubting confidence, in cases which involve questions of Constitutional law. But I would especially desire to see it introduced as a text-book in our schools and colleges, that our young men may be taught to know their rights, and to become acquainted with their duties, as citi. zens, before they engage in the employments of active life. As a citizen of the United States, I thank

benefit which

sense

you for the

have conferred upon the community

you compilation, and you

have

my

best wishes that

your labors

be amply remunerated. I I am, dear sir, very resp'y, Go.

Col. Hickey.

this

may

Jno. Macpherson Berrien.

FROM THE HON. HENRY CLAY, SENATOR OF THE UNITED STATES.

Dear Sir,

Washington, September, 1850.

Understanding that you intend to publish a fourth edition of the volume, compiled and prepared by you, containing the Constitution of the United States, and other highly useful and interesting matter, I take pleasure in expressing the satisfaction I have derived from an examination of the work. You have displayed judgment in the materials which it embodies, and in the order with which they have been arranged. Your residence at the city of Washington, and in one of the public offices, has afforded you an opportunity of access to the original text of the Constitution, and to the other documents and records contained volume, of which you appear to have assiduously availed. yourself. Your work, therefore, deserves perfect confidence in its entire authenticity.

in

your

who can

There are so many and such obvious reasons in favor of this book being extensively circulated, and in the hands of every citizen conveniently afford to purchase it, that I cannot doubt the existence of a constant and large demand for it. And citizens who are going abroad, and foreigners who are coming among us, would all do well to obtain possession of a book which the record of so many impor comprises, within a small compass, tant National events and National transactions. It is scarcely necessary to add an expression of my

obtain a liberal

richly merited for your I

am

Col. W. Hickey.

labors.

wishes

patronage from the public,

respectfully,

Your obed't. servant,

"H. Clay

50

FROM THE HON. LEWIS CASS, SENATOR OF THE UNITED STATES.

your request

Detroit, November 15, 1850.

any

any

testimo.

Dear Sir, At I have carefully examined, and do not hesitate to give my opinion of the value of, your edition of the Constitution, though it is a work which does not need nial of mine to its merits, nor will the expression of my judgment commend it the more to public favor. It is a monument of care, and labor, and accuracy, and may safely depend upon its own intrinsic claims, without calling to its aid adventitious circumstances whatever. The voice of the country and the repeated orders of the Senate for its publication and distribution, are equally honorable to the character of the work, and to the ability and fidelity of the author. Its scrupulous accuracy, its analytical investigations, and the compression of the important historical facts which preceded and attended the proceedings of the Convention, and which marked the progress of the adoption of the Constitution, through all the stages of doubt and anxiety, till the final and happy consummation, have already received the approbation of several eminent men, whose letters are con. tained in the former edition. But if ever there was period in the history of our country, which called upon us to look back upon the blessings which the Constitution has brought, and the difficulties it encountered before it received the sanction of the American States and people, that period is upon us. we were now separated, as we were in 1787, mortal по could bring us together. Whether, with all the experience of our dangers and our blessings, we can be kept together, must depend upon the spirit with which we come up to the work. Whether the feelings of concession and compromise which ani. mated our fathers will continue to animate their sons, or enough

a

upon

стр

power

ac

of them, to preserve and perpetuate this precious heritage, quired by services and sufferings which are written in our past history, and may find equal examples of national calamity in the future, should this confederation be broken up, great question of the day, which events are fast hastening to a solution, under circumstances as imposing as they are portentous.

was one

years.

is the

Your reference to the practice of Rome and to that of the mediaeval ages in England, where the diffusion of the knowledge of their respective Constitutions, especially among the youth, of the cares of the government, furnishes an important lesson, which cannot be too strongly commended to the public attention. The Constitution should be a school-book, made fa. miliar to us from our earliest Its principles, its provisions, its limitations, should be studied and understood, and the more they are studied the better will they be appreciated and the dearer they will become. I should be glad to see of the Constitution in every school-house in the Union, and colleague and myself impressed with the importance of this suggestion, that we intend to distribute all the copies ceive, among the school libraries of Michigan.

are so

I dear sir,

am,

Respectfully, your obed't serv't,

William Hickey, Esq.

Washington.

your

edition

my

we re.

Lewis Cass.

2*