become her to make. But, besides that, we are to consider that it is to purchase for this country, and for mankind, a treasure of instruction, whose value no money can measure, no figures can express."

This resolution not being finally acted upon before the close of the session, a clause was introduced into the general appropriation bill, and passed on the 3d March, 1837, by which the sum of thirty thousand dollars was appropriated for the purchase of the manuscripts.

In accordance with this law, Mrs. MADISON, on the 1st April, 1837, delivered to the Secretary of State, for the United States, the manuscripts described in her conveyance in the following terms: "The Debates of the Convention which framed the Constitution of the United States, prepared by Mr. MADISON, together with the Debates taken by him in the Congress of the Confederation in 1782, 1783 and 1787, and selections made by himself, and prepared under his eye from his letters narrating the proceedings of that body during the periods of his service in it, with the Debates in 1776 on the Declaration of Independence by THOMAS JEFFERSON prefixed." These manuscripts in duplicate were placed in the Department of State.

At the first session of the twenty-fifth Congress, on the 12th September, 1837, on motion of Mr. LINN of Missouri, a resolution was passed by the Senate, instructing the Joint Library Committee to inquire into the expediency of causing the manuscripts deposited in the Department of State to be published. In compliance with these instructions, Mr. PRESTON of South Carolina, reported to the Senate, and Mr. PATTON of Virginia to the House of Representatives, a resolution from the Joint Library Committee, instructing them to ascertain whether the purchase of Mr. MADISON's work, authorized by

the appropriation of the preceding session of Congress had been made; and if so, directing them to inquire into and report These resolutions were

a plan for the publication of the same. passed on the 27th September, 1837.

At the same session, and on the 14th October following, an act was passed to carry into effect the last provision of the resolution reported at the preceding session, and the President was authorised to reconvey to Mrs. MADISON the right to publish in foreign countries, and for her own benefit, the manuscript Debates of the Convention which formed the Constitution; but she was not to withdraw from the possession of the Government either of the copies of the Debates which had accompanied her conveyance; and on the 5th February, 1838, Mr. PRESTON of South Carolina submitted a motion that the Committee on the Library be authorized to cause the MADISON PAPERS to be printed and published. This resolution, after being considered by the Senate as in Committee of the Whole, was, on the 7th February, on the motion of Mr. SEVIER of Arkansas, referred to the Library Committee. On the 4th of July following, Mr. WALL of New Jersey, from that committee, reported it back as a joint resolution, and recommended the necessary appropriation for the printing and publication of the papers. In that shape it passed the Senate, and was sent to the House of Representatives for concurrence.

On the 9th July the House of Representatives, after having had under consideration the resolution of the Senate, amended it by changing it into an act, in which form, it was passed, and being concurred in by the Senate and approved by the President on the same day, became a law in the following terms: “An act authorizing the printing of the Madison Papers. "Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the B*

Joint Committee on the Library be authorized to cause the MADISON PAPERS to be printed and published; and that a sum not exceeding five thousand dollars be appropriated for that purpose out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appriated."

On the 28th January, 1839, Mr. WALL of New Jersey, reported to the Senate, a contract made in pursuance of the act of Congress, by Messrs. ROBBINS of Rhode Island, and POPE of Kentucky, the Chairmen of the Joint Library Committee for the publication of the work in its present form, to be executed under the superintendance of Mr. GILPIN, the Solicitor of the Treasury. For this purpose, one of the duplicate manuscript copies, deposited by Mrs. MADISON, was withdrawn by the Library Committee from the Department of State, and delivered to the publishers.

In the publication thus directed it has been deemed to be a primary and indispensable duty to follow the manuscript with scrupulous care. It was not thought proper to admit any note or comment, even explanatory; and all those that are found, were in the manuscript deposited in the Department of State. No alteration of any sort from the copy furnished and revised by Mrs. MADISON, has been permitted, except the correction of a few slight and evident clerical errors, and the insertion of some dates and formal parts of official documents, for which blanks had been left.

The character of Mr. MADISON's work, however, and especially that part of it relating to the Congress of the Confederation, seemed to render a reference to cotemporary documents indispensable-at all events, it was necessary to save the reader much perplexity and trouble. The Debates and the Correspondence refer with brevity to a variety of subjects in the order of their occurrence, and also to the remarks, conduct

and opinions of many persons in public life. The corresponding portions of the public and secret journals, the published letters of official functionaries during the same period, and works in which are to be found cotemporary private letters or remarks on the same topics or by the same persons, afford explanations too important to be overlooked. Yet they are scattered through various volumes, and, even in them, are found or traced with difficulty. The printed journals of the confederation, both public and secret, are not only voluminous but very imperfect. Much of the proceedings of Congress is entirely omitted in both, and they are so incomplete that it is frequently impossible to trace with accuracy the details of legislation even on topics of great public interest. To the secret journals there is no index, and that annexed to the public journals is far from being full. The diplomatic correspondence, which is exceedingly valuable, and constantly illustrates the remarks of Mr. MADISON and the debates he has preserved, extends through nineteen volumes; and the letters of many of the eminent men referred to, which treat of the same topics, are only to be found in various works subsequently published from time to time.

It has been thought, therefore, that it would be proper to make a brief reference at the end of the volumes to some of the principal of these passages; but in such a manner as not, in the slightest degree, to interfere or connect them with the text of Mr. MADISON himself. They are annexed only in the belief that they will be of service to the reader and may facilitate his researches. They are not as numerous as they might have been made, perhaps with additional advantage; and the form of a simple reference has been alone adopted, because it was not intended to introduce any commentary or remarks. The fulness and accuracy of these references have been

increased in a very great degree by the researches and aid of Mr. SPARKS of Cambridge, Mr. SMITH, the librarian of the Philadelphia library, Mr. WALL of New Jersey, Mr. ATHERTON and Mr. HILL of New Hampshire, Mr. Dıx of Albany, Mr. SHUNK of Harrisburg, and Mr. FORCE of Washington.

Explanatory tables of contents have been prepared and prefixed to each volume of the work, and a copious index has been added to the whole. Though not forming a part of the manuscript of Mr. MADISON, they are thought to be indispensable.

WASHINGTON, 1st January, 1840.

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