Page:Federalist, Dawson edition, 1863.djvu/41

Rh While the political friends of the two principal authors of the The Fœderalist were thus engaged in discussing the question which Mr. had unwittingly raised, the more intimate personal friends of Mr., and probably Mr. himself, were not passive spectators of the war of words which raged around them. One of the former, the late, a statesman of eminent abilities, who possessed to an unusual extent the confidence of the latter, and held a seat in his cabinet, had the forethought to secure from the hands of Mr. himself the written testimony of that gentleman on the well-contested question, and to certify its genuineness for the benefit of those who might appeal to it after his decease. That interesting manuscript, with its accompanying certificate, has since descended to his eldest son, and is treasured by the latter as one of his most precious heirlooms; the reader, therefore, will peruse with peculiar pleasure the following complete description of them from the hand of the gentleman who now possesses them, by whom it has been communicated for insertion in this work.

"Mount Airy, near Philadelphia, "29th August, 1863.

",

"Every fresh opportunity afforded to the American People to study and comprehend, and thereby learn to reverence and obey, that matchless written Constitution, the very first object of which, as expressed in its opening words, was to form a more perfect Union, is a fresh avenue to the glory and perpetuity of the Union, and deserves the cordial coöperation of every one. The Papers entitled 'The Federalist, on the