A Brief Enquiry into the True Nature and Character of Our Federal Government

Abel P. Upshur · 1840

Upshur's reply to Justice Joseph Story's Commentaries on the Constitution, arguing that the Constitution was made by the states as sovereign parties. Upshur later served as U.S. Secretary of State and opened the negotiations over the annexation of Texas before his death in 1844.

Printed title page reading 'A Brief Enquiry into the True Nature and Character of Our Federal Government' by Abel P. Upshur, Philadelphia, John Campbell, 1863. — A Brief Enquiry into the True Nature and Character of Our Federal Government (title page; Philadelphia reprint of the 1840 Petersburg edition), Abel P. Upshur; John Campbell, publisher, 1863 (first published 1840). Cornell University Library, via Internet Archive.

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Scan of the 1863 Philadelphia reprint of the original 1840 Petersburg edition, 170 pages (9 MB).

A Brief Enquiry into the True Nature and Character of Our Federal Government

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