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The types of documents in the supplements are:
(1) newspaper items that repeat arguments, examples of which are
printed in the state volumes,
(2) pamphlets that circulated primarily within one state and that are
not printed in the state volumes or in Commentaries,
(3) letters that contain supplementary material about politics and
social relationships,
(4) photographic copies of petitions with the names of signers,
(5) photographic copies of manuscripts such as notes of debates,
and
(6) miscellaneous documents such as election certificates, attendance
records, pay vouchers and other financial records, etc.
Commentaries on the Constitution: Public and Private.
This series contains newspaper items, pamphlets, and broadsides that
circulated regionally or nationally. It also includes some private letters
that give the writers' opinions of the Constitution in general or that
report on the prospects for ratification in several states. Except for
some grouped items, documents are arranged chronologically and are
numbered consecutively throughout the four volumes. There are fre-
quent cross-references between Commentaries and the state series.
The Bill of Rights.
The public and private debate on the Constitution continued in
several states after ratification. It was centered on the issue of whether
there should be amendments to the Constitution and the manner in
which amendments should be proposed-by a second constitutional
convention or by the new U.S. Congress. A bill of rights was proposed
in the U.S. Congress on 8 June 1789. Twelve amendments were adopted
on 25 September and were sent to the states on 2 October. This
volume(s) will contain the documents related to the public and private
debate over amendments, to the proposal of amendments by Congress,
and to the ratification of the Bill of Rights by the states.
q .
ORGANIZATION