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Show 8 concession and compromise, upon the principle of granting such powers as s c1ned n cc sary for the O'ood of the whole, specifically, and "r serving ;o the people or the States, respectively," all powers not granted. 1,hcse debates, too, are meagre, but they are sufficient to give the intelligent reader a clear notion of the intentions of the Convention, and what powers arc really granted to Congress by that instrument of government 'vhich has shed so much happiness upon our beloved country. Pursuing the same purpose, I have next taken up the conventions of the several States to ratify the Constitution, and given everything relating to the subject of slavery that was said and done in them. In some of these States the debates arc quite full; in others but mere fragments have been preserved; and in a few, none at all. I have given everything I could find, and my facilities have not been very limited, upon this subject. l'he construction given to the Constitution by the ·wise and good men who deliberated upon its ratification, n1any of whom had taken part in its formation, has been carefully and fully noted. I have INTRODUCTOHY. 9 omitted nothing on this subject within the scope of an ample library, and long, patient, and thorough investigation. Leaving the Constitution at the period of its ratification by the requisite number of States, I have next taken up the Ordinance of 1787, important in the history of the country as containing the first restriction upon the spread of slavery ever adopted by the ·e Stat s, although it 'vas adopted under the Articl s of Con£ d "'ration, before the present Con titution "vas framed ; still, it is deemed of importance at the present day, as fnrni hing a prcc dent for the prohibition of slav ry in the 1'erritories by the general governTil nt. 'l'his chapt r 'va compiled by lion. 1"> tcr Force, of Washington, fro1n original docnn1eut , \vho has spent a li£ tin1e in compilino- the archives of the government, under the authority of Congress. It is unquestionably the only authentic history of that fan1ous ordinance ever given to the country; and I de ire here to express to the great American compiler, n1y sincere thanks for his courtesy and kindness in this behalf. Passing from this, the first action of Congress |