Journal of the House of Representatives of the United States
- 164, clxv-clxxvii pages. 1 vols. Folio
- New York: Francis Childs and John Swaine, 1789
New York: Francis Childs and John Swaine, 1789. First edition, one of 700 copies. 164, clxv-clxxvii pages. 1 vols. Folio. Expertly bound full calf, covers bordered in gilt, spine with raised bands in seven compartments, red morocco lettering piece. Minor age toning, untrimmed. First edition, one of 700 copies. 164, clxv-clxxvii pages. 1 vols. Folio. This rare original printing of the Journal for the first session of the House of Representatives covers the activities of the House from March 4 to September 7, 1789, a period in which many important legislative events took place. Foremost among these was the discussion of the proposed Bill of Rights. Pages 102-105 contain some fine tuning of the language of some of the seventeen amendments originally proposed by James Madison in the House. Some of the measures considered by the House include provisions directly in the Constitution itself, such as to the length of the President's term. Numerous references to individual parts of the Bill of Rights are made throughout the first volume as well, and a preliminary version of the Bill of Rights is printed on pages 107-108.
The remainder of the Journal for the first session contains much of the important legislative foundation for the machinery of government, regulating the Customs, Judiciary, Post Office, Mint, and establishing the Executive Office. Also recorded are petitions from individual citizens, including one by Hannah Adams, "to publish and vend a work she has compiled, entitled, "An alphabetical compendium of the various sects which have appeared from the beginning of the christian aera, to the present day...." David Ramsay petitioned Congress to secure copyright for his two histories of the Revolution, and objected to the seating of South Carolina's William Loughton Smith in the House. Christopher Colles, who was engaged at the time in a vitally important project to map the new nation's roads, also petitioned Congress for a patent on the perambulator that he invented and used in his mapping work. Included also is a printing of George Washington's first inaugural address.
The printing of the first session of the Journal of the House was undertaken by Francis Childs and John Swaine, both former apprentices to John Dunlap who had petitioned and won the right to become government printers to the House in New York (and subsequently in Philadelphia) to print the Acts and the Journal. According to Congressional records, 700 copies of the Journal were printed largely for the use of members of the government.
An important and valuable volume in the history of American government, recording all manner of legislative activities from the earliest days of the federal government, the record of the crucial start of our new government under the Constitution, with one of the earliest official printings of the proposed Bill of Rights. Evans 22208; Sabin 15554; ESTC W27498; cf. Grolier American 100 20
The remainder of the Journal for the first session contains much of the important legislative foundation for the machinery of government, regulating the Customs, Judiciary, Post Office, Mint, and establishing the Executive Office. Also recorded are petitions from individual citizens, including one by Hannah Adams, "to publish and vend a work she has compiled, entitled, "An alphabetical compendium of the various sects which have appeared from the beginning of the christian aera, to the present day...." David Ramsay petitioned Congress to secure copyright for his two histories of the Revolution, and objected to the seating of South Carolina's William Loughton Smith in the House. Christopher Colles, who was engaged at the time in a vitally important project to map the new nation's roads, also petitioned Congress for a patent on the perambulator that he invented and used in his mapping work. Included also is a printing of George Washington's first inaugural address.
The printing of the first session of the Journal of the House was undertaken by Francis Childs and John Swaine, both former apprentices to John Dunlap who had petitioned and won the right to become government printers to the House in New York (and subsequently in Philadelphia) to print the Acts and the Journal. According to Congressional records, 700 copies of the Journal were printed largely for the use of members of the government.
An important and valuable volume in the history of American government, recording all manner of legislative activities from the earliest days of the federal government, the record of the crucial start of our new government under the Constitution, with one of the earliest official printings of the proposed Bill of Rights. Evans 22208; Sabin 15554; ESTC W27498; cf. Grolier American 100 20