The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-07-15
COMMUNICATIONS.
10 the Editor Of the Us,on BE- b s8a,fH
The Constitution for the People.


Having been presented with copy of Hckey's edition
OF the Constitution, with the alphabetical analysis and
compilation OF other important statistical information
have gwen an attentive perusa and beg leave to sub
mi 10 the public through your columns, few of my
IDEAS upon the subject OF the permanent benefits that VIII
necessarily result TO the people and TO the Union from
extensive circulation Of this truly American book
The third clause OF the sixth article of the constitution
declares, hat the senators and representatives in Con-
gress, and the members of the several State legisa-
lures and all executive and judicial officers both OF the
United States and OF the several States shall be bound
by oath or affirmation, to support this constitution"
~, ms oah to support necessarily imposes the obga
ton to Understand the constitutions and no one can nn-
derstand II WELL without having true copy of it in pos
sessions reading it, and making it an object of constant
reference when questions of construction depending upon
the PLAN letter OF that instrument, arise Every intelligent
American czen capable OF reading and understanding is
bound by duty to his country, do this; but there Is
class OF citizens who in addition the obligation which is
thus common to every citizen are bound by the solemn
ty OF their oaths, TO make themselves well ACQUAINTED
with lis provisions restrictions and limitations and this
class is designated by the constitution ITSELF above sta
ted This may be esteemed strong conservative, self
protecting principle in the legal and moral government of
our country. that the persons who primarily chosen
by the sovereign people to administer the general and
State and to execute that great fundamental
law and the laws made in pursuance thereof and an those
subordinate officers and agents whose appointments are
provided Tor IN this general constitution and in the pa
cular constitutions OF the sovereign States should be
bound by common bond OF the highest and sacred
moral character. The written constitution, by its plain
letter and unsophistIcated meaning is the paramount
governing law and must be executed good faith for
the general welfare of the whole country and for the Sc
curly OF the rights and interests of the minority and of
every section of the Union. What is more consonant TO
reason therefore, than that every member of the national
and State Legislatures, all executive and judicial officers
both OF the United States and of the several States should
be supplied by the government emanatng from and de-
pendent upon the constitution with authentic copies of
that instrument? But, the constitution rests for its sup
port manly upon the great body of intelligent American
cizensthe votersthe electors of those officers who are
to be Entrusted with its execution; those voters
to form their own opinions OF the construction of the
plain letter of the constitution, in order TO Judge of the
soundness OF the opinions and views of those who
are candidates for their suffrage. How are they to
form their opinions or to Judge, unless they have,
order frequently TO read and to become acquainted with
its principles and details, and to make themselves nde-
pendent OF other mems minds and teaching for knowl
edge of the great charter of their rights and their lber
ties Can any object be more in accordance with the
constitution better calculated to its honest and
faithful execution, Or to prevent Its violation with impu
supply the people themselves literally by the govern
ment with true copies of that instrument, connected
with succinc yet comprehensive statistical record of
the elections and agents by whom it has been SO far
carried into effect, and other interesting matter showing
the reasons for its adoption, chronological history oil
the several States and Territories, and other interesting
matter highly acceptable to and necessary for the people
to possess This addendum to the constitutions besides
giving volume to the book, practically illustrates the po
tcal complexion of the government since its adoption
% ths Ae ballet 1s boy *, in the elections
Supreme Court of the United States. and is compend-
um of important and interesting matter nowhere else to
be found in so convenient form.
The authenticity OF this copy of the constitution has
been atested, after critical comparison with the original
constitution parchment, by the Secretary of State, who
declares that may therefore be relied upon as stand
ard edition. The Supreme Court OF the United States has
accordingly adopted it as SUCH and in order that it may
always be within the reach of the members of the court,
and of the bar engaged in argument the Chief Justice has
directed the Librarian to purchase twenty copies for
the law library. The Senate of the United States have
also adopted it true copy and approved the entire
compilation and composillon-havlng ordered and dis
trbuted among institutions and the people of the
States, number which placed at the disposal OF mem
bers OF the last and present sessions about $50 copies
each The Senate have also placed at the disposal OF
Alexander Vattemare 100 copies of this book, to be dis
tributed in France upon the principle OF international
change These evidences of the sanction and approval
of these high authorities of the government, render
desirable, if not indispensable TO every court in the
Union, whether of the United States or OF State iursdc
ton, to possess copies of it, and render safe stand
ard for all other public authorities officers, and citizens
to rely upon The Importance OF true. uniform, stand
ard edition will be seen when it is considered how much
the various printed editions connected with the laws &c.
differ from each other, and from the original, especially
in the punctuation, changing in many the OF
the clauses and sentences in which occurs and in some
instances differing in the words The freedom from
such errors and the universal use OF an edition or version
known to be true, be appreciated by intelligent
in all the walks of lfe where it is to be read, consider
ed construed, and obeyed in common the paramount
fundamental law of the land, but especially In law and
politics, where the grants OF power, restrictions, and
limitations closely examined and rigdly construed
The additional matter in this book being all OF
questionable public and important character, renders the
constitution itself attractive 10 every American
citizen by constantly exhibiting to him, in the most
else form, the practical operation of the great American
system of government and the supremacy OF the ballot
box the results OF the periodical elections OF
the highest officers of the government, and the
sion OF the senatorial and other high authorities and Off
GERS in the Legislative, executive, and judicial branches
1t presents view of the continued strength and activity
of the constitution since the commencement OF the gov
ernmen and indicates the plain and safe principles and
means by which the Union may be preserved, and the
government maintained in the exercise OF its Just and
necessary powers and duties. W
This additional matter consists of an introduction, eX-
planning the necessity Tor every citizen reading and ma
king himself acquainted with the constitution, and the
true principles of our government; complete aphabe
cal analysis of the constitution rendering an immediate
reference to any part OF its provisions at all tunes easy
the official documents showing the immediate and
necessity for adopting this constitution OF government
in preference the inefficient form OF the old confedera
tom tabular statements OF the electoral votes Tor Pes
dent and Vice Presidents of the regular and extra SEES
OF Congress their commencement, terfnnlon anC
number of days each and the attendance OF the vice
President and President pro empore IN the SENATE; OF
the regular succession OF the Senator'S secretaries
Speakers, Clerks the Justices and oflcers OF the SUI
preme Court and all the chief executive officers OF the
government since 1888; particular laws OF general
organic, and conservative character, relating TO cleo
TONS the preservation of neutral relations, &C.. State
papers, succinct chronological history Of the States
and descriptive statement OF the public books contain
ing the Legislative, executive and judicial history, the
political proceedings and statistical accmuaons of the
government with other historical and interesting matter
and understood that it intended to add to the thirt
edition the old articles of confederation, and complete
table OF the senators and representatives OF the present