Documentary History of the First Federal Congress of the United States of America, March 4, 1789-March 3, 1791: The Diary of William Maclay and Other Notes on Senate Debates

by United States Congress, Kenneth R. Bowling (Editor), Helen E. Veit (Editor)

Overview

Winner of the Thomas Jefferson Prize from the Society for History of the Federal Government

Caustic, witty, and rich in anecdotes and personal observations, the diary of William Maclay is the preeminent unofficial document of the First Federal Congress and, with James Madison's notes from the Federal Convention, one of the two most important journals in American political and constitutional history.

The first U.S. Senate met in secret, and much of what is known about its proceedings comes from Pennsylvania senator William Maclay, who kept a diary of what was said on the floor and who seldom failed to make an entry for each day. To this record he added his analysis of the debate, details about behind-the-scenes politicking and social lists in New York and Philadelphia, and comments on the character, motives, and morals of those with whom he associated—including Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Madison, and Hamilton.

The diary establishes beyond any doubt that the Founding Fathers practiced legislative politics much as their descendants do today. Rich in both information and opinion, the book makes for engrossing reading.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780801835353
Publisher:	Johns Hopkins University Press
Publication date:	09/01/1988
Series:	Documentary History of the First Federal Congress of the United States of America, March 4, 1789-March 3, 1791 , #9
Pages:	560
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x (d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Kenneth R. Bowling is the coeditor of the Documentary History of the First Federal Congress, 1789–1791

Helen E. Veit is an associate editor of the Documentary History of the First Federal Congress, 1789–1791.

Table of Contents

Illustrations
Introduction
Editorial Method
Acknowledgments
Abbreviations and Symbols
Members of the Senate
Members of the House of Representatives
Part I. The Diary of William Maclay
First Session
Second Session
Third Session
Appendix A: Miscellaneous Diary Documents
Appendix B: Newspaper Pieces
Appendix C: Genealogical Chart
Appendix D: Correspondence of William Maclay
Appendix E: Biography of William Maclay
Part II. Other Notes on Senate Debates
The Notes of:
Johns Adams
Pierce Butler
William Samuel Johnson
Rufus King
William Paterson
Paine Wingate
Index

Editorial Reviews

This unique eyewitness account of the launching of the government under the Constitution is also one of the great American diaries, consistently entertaining and compulsively readable.

Constitution - Richard B. Bernstein

"This unique eyewitness account of the launching of the government under the Constitution is also one of the great American diaries, consistently entertaining and compulsively readable."

Constitution - Richard E. Bernstein

Presents petitions to the First Federal Congress of the U.S. government, organized by the following topics: Algerine prisoners, arts and sciences, bankruptcy law, Confederation Congress, executive branch, fisheries, judicial branch, lands, manufacturing subsidies, militia duty exemptions, post office, public credit, public health and morality, revenue system, and seat of government location. Also presents a number of nonlegislative official documents, regarding such topics as amendments to the constitution, commercial relations with Great Britain, elections, judicial reform, and the eulogy of Benjamin Franklin. The editors' introductions, to the volume itself, each section, and each individual document, place the documents in historical context. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

Booknews

This unique eyewitness account of the launching of the government under the Constitution is also one of the great American diaries, consistently entertaining and compulsively readable.
—Richard B. Bernstein, Constitution

From the Publisher

This unique eyewitness account of the launching of the government under the Constitution is also one of the great American diaries, consistently entertaining and compulsively readable.

— Richard E. Bernstein

Constitution