and proclamations
of our statesmen which guided our country during critical periods of our
political life. It is a book of our country as a whole; all must read it
with emotions of gratitude and pride at the grandeur and stability of
our institutions as exemplified by the eloquent words of the statesmen
and leading spirits of the great Republic.

First in its pages, appropriately, will be found the "Declaration of
Independence," the great corner stone of American liberty; and as a
fitting close, one of our most distinguished historians has furnished a
"History of the Flag,"--the Flag of the Union, the sacred emblem around
which are clustered the memories of the thousands of heroes who have
struggled to sustain it untarnished against both foreign and domestic
foes. To the Declaration of Independence, Constitution of the United
States, and Washington's Farewell Address--truly "Key Notes to American
Liberty"--have been added many important proclamations and congressional
acts of a later day, namely: President Jackson's famous Nullification
Proclamation to South Carolina, The Monroe Doctrine, Dred Scott
Decision, Neutrality laws, with numerous documents, state papers and
statistical matter growing out of the late Rebellion; all of which will
be read with new and ever increasing interest. And as long as our
Republic endures, these pages will be cherished as the representative of
all that is great and good in our country; and will prove incentives to
our children to follow in the footsteps of the patriots by whose genius
and valor our institutions have been cherished and preserved, and
liberty, like water made to run throughout the land free to all.

CONTENTS.

PAGE.

DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, 9

CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES, 18

AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION, 39

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT ABOLISHING SLAVERY, 44

PROPOSED AMENDMENTS OF THE XXXIXTH CONGRESS, 48

THE ORDINANCE OF 1787, 51

THE FUGITIVE SLAVE BILL OF 1793, 52

THE FUGITIVE SLAVE BILL OF 1850, 55

THE MISSOURI COMPROMISE, 67

THE STATES OF THE UNION, WITH THE DATE OF THEIR
ADMISSION, 69

INAUGURAL ADDRESS OF GEORGE WASHINGTON,