FOREWORD BY WILLIAM HAYNE LEAVELL

SKETCH OF THE AUTHOR'S LIFE BY WILLIAM HAYNE LEAVELL
INTRODUCTION BY JOHN BASSETT MOORE

BOOK I

THE POLITICAL HISTORY OF SLAVERY IN THE UNITED

CHAPTER

STATES

I. NEGRO SLAVERY AT THE TIME OF THE FORMATION OF THE CON-

STITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES

II. ACQUISITION OF LOUISIANA .

3

18

V. REPUDIATION OF COMPROMISE ON 36° 30′

VI. THE ANNEXATION OF TEXAS

LINCOLN AND THE DOUGLAS Debate.

IX. JOHN BROWN'S INVASION OF VIRGINIA

XI. THE WAR AND ITS PURPOSES

VII. WAS THE MISSOURI COMPROMISE VIOLATED BY THE SOUTH?.

VIII.

BOOK II

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY OF RECONSTRUCTION

I. FIRST STEPS IN RECONSTRUCTION

II. THE FOURTEENTH AMENDMENT

III. THE BILL A MEASURE OF PUNISHMENT AND RUIN

IV. THE MILITARY BILL IN THE SENATE.

V.

>

DISHONOR TO SOUTH IN THE FOURTEENTH AMENDMENT

VI. FURTHER MEDDLING

VII. RECONSTRUCTION UNDER THESE Laws

158

166

181

188

250

IX. REPEAL of the Law as to Appeals to the SUPREME COURT

X. PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION OF 1868

XI. THE FIFTEENTH AMENDMENT

.

APPENDIX

VIEWS OF THE MINORITY OF THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE OF THE UNITED

STATES SENATE ON THE CONSTITUTIONAL QUESTIONS INVOLVED IN

THE BILL TO PROVIDE FOR INQuests Under NATIONAL AUTHORITY 279

INDEX

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FOREWORD

In offering this book to the public I know that it is fragmentary in the sense that the whole purpose the author had in view in writing it has not been achieved, although the parts presented are in themselves complete.

When in the middle of his last term Senator George announced that he would not offer for reelection it was his expectation to devote the leisure to be thus secured to the discussion of the constitutional deficiencies of the reconstruction legislation, especially that part of it which interferes with the unhindered right of the States to regulate the suffrage, add that as the third and last section to the book, and so complete his whole plan. Unhappily he was overtaken by death before the day of his leisure arrived.

After the author realized he would not be permitted to accomplish all he sought when he began writing he doubted the wisdom of publishing any part of the book, but left the decision of that question as well as the preparation of the manuscript for the press in the hands of his friend and successor, the Honorable H. D. Money.

Mr. Money decided to publish so much of the work as was completed, but because of his defective eyesight deferred the matter for some time in the hope that his eyes would improve. However, finding that hope vain, he undertook the necessary labor despite his defective vision, and read the difficult handwriting of Senator George to an operator who made a typewritten copy of the original manuscript.

But when he had proceeded thus far Mr. Money realized that, because of his imperfect vision and his own multiplied duties, it was altogether impracticable for him to devote to the task the necessary time and attention; so he reluctantly abandoned the effort and returned the manuscript.

One or two other unsuccessful efforts were made to get the matter prepared for publication, and time passed on.