Mr. David Maydole Matteson of Cambridge, Massachusetts, has made the index of these volumes as he made that of the first two volumes, and has combined both indexes into one. In rendering this service, Mr. Matteson has also searched for points where text and notes could be made more accurate; and I wish to express my appreciation of his kindness.
My thanks are also owing to the staff of The Riverside Press, and particularly to Mr. Lanius D. Evans, to whose keen interest and watchful care in the production of this work I am indebted for much of whatever exactitude it may possess.
The manuscript sources have been acknowledged, in all instances, in the footnotes where references to them have been made, except in the case of the letters of Marshall to his relatives, for which I again thank those descendants and connections of the Chief Justice named in the preface to Volumes One and Two. The Hopkinson manuscripts are in the possession of Mr. Edward Hopkinson of Philadelphia, to whom I am indebted for the privilege of inspecting this valuable source and for furnishing me with copies of important letters.
In preparing these volumes, Mr. A. P. C. Griffin, Assistant Librarian, and Mr. John Clement Fitzpatrick, of the Manuscript Division of the Library of Congress, have been even more obliging, if possible, than they were in the preparation of the first part of this work. The officers and their assistants of the Boston Public Library, the Boston Athenæum, the Massachusetts State Library, the Massachusetts Historical Society, the Pennsylvania Historical Society, the Virginia State Library, the Indiana State Library, and the Indianapolis City Library, have assisted whole-heartedly in the performance of my labors; and I am glad of the opportunity to thank all of them for their interest and help.
The National Capital an unsightly "village in the woods"-- Difficulty and danger of driving through the streets-- Habits of the population--Taverns, shops, and dwellings-- Warring interests--A miniature of the country--Meaning of the Republican victory of 1800--Anger, chagrin, and despair of the Federalists--Marshall's views of the political situation-- He begins to strengthen the Supreme Court--The Republican programme of demolition--Jefferson's fear and hatred of the National Judiciary--The conduct of the National Judges gives Jefferson his opportunity--Their arrogance, harshness, and partisanship--Political charges to grand juries--Arbitrary application of the common law--Jefferson makes it a political issue--Rigorous execution of the Sedition Law becomes hateful to the people--The picturesque and historic trials that made the National Judiciary unpopular--The trial and conviction of Matthew Lyon; of Thomas Cooper; of John Fries; of Isaac Williams; of James T. Callender; of Thomas and Abijah Adams-- Lawyers for Fries and Callender abandon the cases and leave the court-rooms--The famous Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions raise the fundamental question as to the power that can interpret the Constitution--Jefferson plans the assault on the National Judiciary.