Liberty Fund Seminars: Liberty and the Constitution: The New York Ratifying Convention

Liberty and the Constitution: The New York Ratifying Convention

A Co-Sponsored Program of the Ashbrook Center for Public Affairs at Ashland University and Liberty Fund, Inc.

The Thayer (West Point, New York)

March 30 – April 1, 2012

Reading List and Reading Packet

Download Entire Reading Packet

SESSION I: The Anti-Federalist Critique of the Constitution

• Allen, W.B. and Gordon Lloyd, eds. The Essential Antifederalist. Second Edition. Lanham: Rowman and Littlefield Publishers, Inc., 2002.
• selections from Chapter 1
• Part IV, George Mason’s “Objections, October 1787″ (pages 16-18)
• selections from Chapter 2
• Part XV, “Federal Farmer, Letter I, October 8, 1787″ (pages 78-86)
• Part XVI, “Centinel, Letter I, October 5, 1787″ (pages 96-105)
• Part XVII, “Brutus, Essay I, October 18, 1787″ (pages 105-115)
• Part XVII, “Brutus, Essay V, December 13, 1787″ (pages 115-121)
• selections from Chapter 3
• Part XXIII, excerpt from “Federal Farmer, Letter IV, October 12, 1787,” (pages 164-166)
• Part XXV, excerpt from “Brutus, Essay II, November 1, 1787″ (pages 174-178)
• Part XXV, “Brutus, Essay XI, January 31, 1788″ (pages 185-190)
• “Brutus, Essay XV, March 20, 1788″ (pages 196-200)
• selections from Chapter 4
• Part XXXIV, “Brutus, Essay III, November 15, 1787″ (pages 251-257)
• Part XXXVI, “Agrippa, Letter VII, December 18, 1787″ (pages 260-262)

[Packet Pages: 9-75]

SESSION II: The Federalist Defense of the Constitution

• Carey, George W. and James McClellan, eds. The Federalist. Indianapolis: Liberty Fund, Inc., 2001.
• Number 1, Alexander Hamilton’s “Introduction” (pages 1-4)
• Number 9, Alexander Hamilton’s “The Utility of the Union as a Safeguard against Domestic Faction and Insurrection” (pages 37-41)
• Number 10, James Madison’s “The same Subject continued” (pages 42-49)
• Number 37, James Madison’s “Concerning the difficulties which the convention must have experienced in the formation of a proper plan” (pages 179-185)
• Number 51, James Madison’s “The same subject continued, with the same view, and concluded” (pages 267-272)
• Number 55, James Madison’s “The same subject continued, in relation to the total number of the body” (pages 286-291)
• Number 85, Alexander Hamilton’s “Conclusion” (pages 452-458)

[Packet Pages: 77-123]

• Ford, Paul Leicester, eds. Pamphlets on the Constitution of the United States, Published During its Discussion by the People, 1787-1788. Brooklyn: Paul Leicester Ford, 1888.
• Pelatiah Webster’s “The Weakness of Brutus exposed, or some remarks in vindication of the Constitution. By a citizen of Philadelphia” (pages 117-131)

[Packet Pages: 125-139]

• Lloyd, Gordon and Margie Lloyd, eds. The Essential Bill of Rights. Lanham: University Press of America, Inc., 1998.
• selections from Chapter 6
• Part XXXVI
• [A], “James Wilson’s State House Speech, October 6, 1787″ (pages 283-286)

[Packet Pages: 141-143]

SESSION III: Critical States in the Struggle over Ratification: Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and Virginia

• Elliot, Jonathan. The Debates in the Several State Conventions on the Adoption of the Federal Constitution, Second Edition, Volume III. Buffalo: William S. Hein & Co., Inc., 1996.
• selections from the Convention of Virginia, June 1788
• June 24-June 27, 1788 and the Amendments to the Constitution (pages 586 [beginning at "Tuesday, June 24, 1788"]-596 [ending at the paragraph that begins "Gov. RANDOLPH"
• pages 652 [beginning with the paragraph that begins "Gov. RANDOLPH"]-663)

[Packet Pages: 145-170]

• Elliot, Jonathan. The Debates in the Several State Conventions on the Adoption of the Federal Constitution, Second Edition, Volume II. Buffalo: William S. Hein & Co., Inc., 1996.
• selections from the Convention of Massachusetts, January 1788:
• Tuesday, January 15, 1788 (pages 6-11 [ending with the last complete paragraph on page 11])
• Tuesday, January 22, 1788 (pages 70-76)
• Wednesday, January 23, 1788 (pages 76-79 [ending at the paragraph that begins "Mr. CHOATE said…"])
• Thursday, January 31, 1788 (pages 122 [beginning with the paragraph that begins "After Gen. Heath sat down…"]-125 [ending with the paragraph beginning "Hon. Mr. CABOT rose…"] and 130 [beginning with the paragraph "Hon. Mr. ADAMS…"]-133 [ending at the paragraph beginning "Mr. NASON"])

[Packet Pages: 171-197]

• Lloyd, Gordon and Margie Lloyd, eds. The Essential Bill of Rights. Lanham: University Press of America, Inc., 1998.
• selections from Chapter 6
• Part XXXVIII
• [A], “The Remarks of James Wilson, October 28, 1787 and December 4, 1787″ (pages 301-304)
• [B], “The Remarks of John Smilie and Robert Whitehall, November 28, 1787″ (pages 304-308)
• [C], excerpt from “Dissent of the Minority, December 18, 1787″ (pages 308-310)
• Part XXXIX
• [A], “Massachusetts Ratifying Convention Proposed Amendments, February 6, 1788″ (pages 311-313)

[Packet Pages: 199-212]

SESSION VI: The Struggle Over Ratification: New York, Part I

• Elliot, Jonathan. The Debates in the Several State Conventions on the Adoption of the Federal Constitution, Second Edition, Volume II. Buffalo: William S. Hein & Co., Inc., 1996.
• selections from the Convention of Massachusetts,
• January 1788 (pages 222 [at the paragraph that begins "The Hon. Mr. SMITH said…"-239 [ending at "Saturday, June 21, 1788"])

[Packet Pages: 215-230]

• Ford, Paul Leicester, eds. Pamphlets on the Constitution of the United States, Published During its Discussion by the People, 1787-1788.
• Brooklyn: Paul Leicester Ford, 1888. John Jay’s “An Address to the People of the State of New York on the subject of the Constitution. By a citizen of New York” (pages 67-86)

[Packet Pages: 231-250]

SESSION V: The Struggle Over Ratification: New York, Part II

• Elliot, Jonathan. The Debates in the Several State Conventions on the Adoption of the Federal Constitution, Second Edition, Volume II. Buffalo: William S. Hein & Co., Inc., 1996.
• selections from the Convention of Massachusetts, January 1788
• pages 243 [starting at the paragraph that begins "Mr. M. SMITH…"]-268 [ending at "Monday, June 23, 1788"]
• pages 274 [beginning with "Mr. LANSING…"]-286 [ending at "Tuesday, June 24th, 1788"]
• pages 322 [beginning with "Mr. Chancellor LIVINGSTON…"]-325 [ending at the paragraph beginning "Mr. JONES rose…"]
• pages 410 [beginning with "Mr. LANSING then read…"-414]

[Packet Pages: 253-292]

• Documents Illustrative of the Formation of the Union of the American States. Compiled by Charles C. Tansill. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1927.
• “Ratification of the Constitution by the State of New York” (9 pages reprinted from TeachingAmericanHistory.org website)

[Packet Pages: 293-301]

SESSION VI: The Development of the Bill of Rights

• Lloyd, Gordon and Margie Lloyd, eds. The Essential Bill of Rights. Lanham: University Press of America, Inc., 1998.
• sections from Chapter 6
• Part XLVII
• [A], excerpt from “Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, December 20, 1787″ (page 320)
• [B], “James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, April 22, 1788″ (pages 321-322)
• [C], “James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, July 24, 1788″ (pages 322-323)
• [D], “Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, July 31, 1788″ (pages 323-324)
• Part XLI
• [A], “James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, October 17, 1788″ (pages 325-328)
• [B], “James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, December 8, 1788″ (pages 328-329)
• [C], “Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, March 15, 1789″ (pages 329-331)
• Part XLII
• “James Madison Argues for Constitutional Amendments, June 8, 1789″ (pages 331-344)
• Part XLIII
• [A], “Report of the House Select Committee, July 28, 1789″ (pages 345-347)
• [B], “House Debates Select Committee Report, August 13-24, 1789″ (pages 347-351)
• [C], “House Approves Seventeen Amendments, August 24, 1789″ (pages 351-353)
• [D], “First Congress Approves Twelve Amendments, September 25, 1789″ (pages 353-355)

[Packet Pages: 305-349]