Reprints and Collections
THE principal collections of sources on the period 1783–1845 are as follows:—
H. W. Caldwell, Source Extracts. 1. A Survey of American History. 2. Great American Legislators. 3. American Territorial Development:Expansion. Chicago, 1900.—1 and 3 together, American History: Unification, Expansion. Chicago, 1900.
Jonathan Elliot, The Debates in the Several Stale Conventions, on the Adoption of the Federal Constitution, as recommended by the General Convention at Philadelphia in 1787; together with the Journal of the Federal Convention. 5 vols. Various editions.
Albert Bushnell Hart, Source-Book of American History, with Practical Introductions. New York, 1899.—Nos. 64–101 cover the same chronological field as Vol. III of the Contemporaries, but the two works contain no duplicates.
Albert Bushnell Hart and Edward Channing, editors, American History Leaflets. 30 numbers (to be had separately). New York, 1892–1896.—In-dudes many colonial documents.
Mabel Hill, Liberty Documents. New York, 1900.—Contains documents and comments thereon relating chiefly to personal liberty, and showing the derivation of American principles of free government from English traditions.
Alexander Johnston, American Orations: Studies in American Political History. (Edited by James Albert Woodburn.) 4 vols. New York, etc., 1896– 1897.
William MacDonald, Select Documents illustrative of the History of the United States. New York, etc., 1898.—This volume covers the period 1776–1861, and is made up chiefly of constitutional and political documents.
Edwin Doak Mead, editor, Old South Leaflets. Series 1–16. 96 numbers (to be had separately or bound in vols.) [Boston, 1883]–1898.—Many historical pieces; text not carefully collated. Valuable for schools.
Edmund Clarence Stedman and Ellen Mackay Hutchinson, editors, A Library of American Literature, from the Earliest Settlement to the Present Time. 11 vols. New York, 1888–1890.—Vols. III-VI on the period 1783–1845. Very well chosen, though not with immediate reference to the historical value of the pieces. An excellent set for a school library, and often found at second hand.
United States, Annals of Congress. 42 vols. Washington, 1834–1856.—Includes records of the debates from 1789 to 1824.
United States, Congressional Globe: containing Sketches of the Debates and Proceedings. 109 vols. Washington, 1835–1873.—Contains the debates from 1833 on.
United States, Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States of America, from the Signing of the Definitive Treaty of Peace, 10th September, 1783, to the Adoption of the Constitution, March 4, 1789. 7 vols. Washington, 1833–1834.—Another edition, 3 vols., 1837.
United States, Journals of Congress: containing the Proceedings [1774–1788] (contemporancous edition). 13 vols. Philadelphia, 1777–[1788].—Also a reprint in 13 vols. (Philadelphia, 1800–1801); and another in 4 vols., under the title Journals of the American Congress: from 1774 to 1788 (Washington, 1823).
United States, A Compilation of the Messages and Papers of the Presidents. 10 vols. Washington, 1896–1899.—A valuable official publication, poorly edited by James D. Richardson, containing all the presidents’ messages and proclamations except nominations for office. Sold by the government at cost.
United States, Register of Debates in Congress. 29 vols. Washington, 1825– 1837.—Includes the debates for those years.
United States, Secret Journals of the Acts and Proceedings of Congress. 4 vols. Boston, 1821.—Extracts omitted in making up the public journals, especially on the history of the Confederation and on foreign affairs.