Key-Notes of American Liberty

This book appeals to the patriotic sentiments of all classes of readers. In its pages will be found those words of burning eloquence which lighted the fires of the American Revolution, stirring the hearts of our fathers to do battle for our independence; the words of wisdom which brought our ship of state safely through the storms of strife into the calms of peace, and all of the most important speeches 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, 70

WASHINGTON'S FAREWELL ADDRESS, 77

PRESIDENT JACKSON'S PROCLAMATION TO SOUTH CAROLINA, 105

MONROE DOCTRINE, 144

DRED SCOTT DECISION, 146

PRESIDENTS AND VICE-PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES, WITH THE POPULAR VOTE FOR EACH, 154

POPULAR NAMES OF STATES, 166

BATTLES OF THE REVOLUTION, 167

NEUTRALITY LAW OF THE UNITED STATES, 168

POPULATION OF THE UNITED STATES, 176

SLAVE POPULATION IN THE U.S. IN 1860, 177

STATISTICS OF SLAVERY BEFORE THE REVOLUTION, 178

SPEECH OF HON. STEPHEN A. DOUGLAS,--HIS LAST WORDS FOR THE UNION, 179

PRESIDENT LINCOLN'S FIRST CALL FOR TROOPS, 186

TOTAL NUMBER OF TROOPS CALLED INTO SERVICE DURING THE REBELLION, 188

RESOLUTIONS OF THE N.Y. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, 189