How History Unfolds on Paper: Important Americana from the Eric C. Caren Collection, Part X

Group of 7 Volumes of New York Session Laws, From the Library of Samuel Jones
New York: Publishers vary, 1762-1797. Approximately 18 volumes in seven. Comprising:

1. Livingston, William, and William Smith, Jr.
Laws of New-York, From The 11th Nov. 1752, to 22d May 1762....
New-York: Printed by William Weyman, 1762. The Second Volume. From the library of New York statesman Samuel Jones, and signed by him on title-page, and with his marginal notations throughout. Folio. (viii), 268 pp. Full blue buckram, stamped in gilt; all edges trimmed; scattered ink stamps of the Library of the New York Law Institute; scattered spotting. Evans 9213

2. (Laws of New-York)
New York, 1762-1771. Folio. pp. 269-822. (with continuous pagination and register from the above volume); plus six leaves of MS. index at front in Jones' hand. With the imprints of Weyman and Gaine throughout. Bound as above; with Jones' signature at top of p. 471 and 639 (each partially trimmed away); marginalia throughout (by Jones, some after 1780); leaf at front excised; ownership signature of D.S. Jones (his son) on first text leaf, with remnant of what presumably is Samuel Jones's signature above; scattered ink stamps as above; scattered spotting and wear.

Bound with broadside, facing p. 639: By his Excellency the Right Honourable John, Earl of Dunmore...A Proclamation...March 4, 1771. With MS. marginalia; tear along left edge, affecting some MS. and type. Evans 12155

3. (Laws of New-York)
New York, 1772-75. Folio. pp. 823-949 (but 947), (3), 105, (3), 202, (2) pp. (with continuous pagination and register with above; many renumbered in MS.); plus six leaves of MS. index in Samuel Jones' hand. Book-plate of Samuel Jones on front paste-down, and with his ownership signature at top of first text leaf. Full contemporary reverse calf, stamped in blind, morocco spine labels, stamped in gilt, front and rear boards detached, boards rubbed and worn, spine dry, paper gift label on front board, dated 1887, ownership signature on upper front board ("D.S. Jones"); contemporary marginalia throughout (in Samuel Jones' hand); same library ink stamps throughout.

4. Laws of the State of New-York, Passed at the first Meeting of the Seventh Session of the Legislature of said State
New-York: Printed by Elizabeth Holt, 1784. Four volumes in one (with: Laws...Eighth Session, Holt, 1784; Laws...Last Meeting of the Eighth Session, Loudon, 1785; Laws...Ninth Session, Loudon, 1786). With Samuel Jones' signature on title-page, another ownership signature below (D.S. Jones). Folio. (ii), ii-iii, (3)-127, (1); 34; 104; 137 pp. (many renumbered in MS.); plus 10 leaves of MS. index in Samuel Jones' hand. Bound in blue buckram as above; scattered contemporary marginalia (in Samuel Jones' hand); scattered library ink stamps as above; scattered spotting, wear, and repairs.

5. Laws of the State of New-York, Passed by the Legislature of said State, at their Tenth Session
New-York: Printed by Samuel and John Loudon, 1787. Two volumes in one (with: Laws...Eleventh Session, Loudon, 1788). Signed by Samuel Jones on title-page, another signature above same (D.S. Jones). Folio. 212; 222 pp., plus 9 leaves of MS. index in Samuel Jones' hand. Bound as above; scattered marginalia (same as above, post 1801); scattered library ink stamps (same as above); scattered spotting and wear.

6. Laws of the State of New-York, Passed by the Legislature of said State, at their Twelfth Session
New-York: Printed by S. & J. Loudon, 1789. Six volumes in one (with: Laws...Volume the Third,Thirteenth Session, Francis Childs and John Swaine, 1790; Laws...Fourteenth Session, Childs and Swaine, 1791; Laws...Fifteenth Session, Childs and Swaine, 1792; Laws...Sixteenth Session, Childs and Swaine, 1793; Laws...Seventeenth Session, Childs and Swaine, 1794). Folio. 81, (1), (iv); (ii), 48; 38, (2); 74, (2); 63, (1); 36, (2) pp. (many renumbered in MS.); plus 10 leaves of MS. index in Samuel Jones' hand. Bound as above; Contemporary ownership signature on title-page (D.S. Jones); scattered marginalia (same as above, after 1801); scattered spotting and wear; scattered library ink stamps (same as above).

7. Laws of the State of New-York. Eighteenth Session
New-York: Printed by Francis Childs and John Swaine, 1795. Three volumes in one (with: Laws...Nineteenth Session, Childs, 1796; Laws...Twentieth Session, William Robin, 1797). Folio. 55, (3), (2); 54, (2); 240, (4) pp. (many renumbered in MS.); plus 11 leaves of MS. index in Jones' hand. Second volume in 8vo and mounted into folio sheets. Bound as above; scattered marginalia (same as above, some after 1804); scattered soiling, spotting, and wear; scattered library ink stamps (same as above); open tear in center of last text leaf of second volume. Evans 2918

An important run of New York session laws, from the library of Samuel Jones (1734-1819), a critical figure in the early republic of the United States whose career in the New York legislature was instrumental in compiling state law, and whose actions were pivotal in orchestrating New York's passage of the federal Constitution.

These volumes, comprising New York laws from 1762 to 1797, are heavily annotated by Jones. His marginal notes track the legislative status of various bills, marking them as amended, obsolete, repealed, provided for, expired, or suspended, and offer commentary on their progression through the state legislature. Beyond this, Jones has developed an extensive cross-referencing system to facilitate the location of acts across the entire collection and to help clarify relationships between different laws. With the exception of the first volume, each book also includes a lengthy autograph index inserted by Jones at the front or back. Collectively, these annotations attest to his deep mastery of New York state law, strongly indicating that these volumes served as references throughout his extensive legal career, and it is probable that Jones relied on the first five volumes while collaborating with Richard Varick to compile New York state law between 1786 and 1789.

One of Jones' most enduring contributions appears in the fifth volume: the statutory Bill of Rights for New York (Jones has signed above, perhaps indicating his particular pride in authoring it). Among the earliest state-level declarations of rights of its kind, it served as a precursor to the United States Bill of Rights. In 1786, the New York legislature appointed Jones and Richard Varick to organize and publish all the legal statutes still in force within the state. Acting on this mandate, Jones introduced a Bill of Rights to the Assembly on January 13, 1787. The document consisted of thirteen paragraphs enumerating specific liberties, such as the principle that all power derives from the people and the guarantee of due process, among others. Jones drew upon diverse sources for its creation, including the existing New York Constitution (in which several were already embedded), English common law, the Magna Carta, and the Petition of Right. The bill passed both the Assembly and the Senate without opposition and was signed into law by Governor George Clinton on January 26, 1787. Its influence extended to the federal level in two stages. Firstly, John Lansing, Jr., a fellow New York delegate and political associate of Jones, used the bill when drafting a proposed bill of rights that anti-Federalists sought to append to the U.S. Constitution. Secondly, James Madison used Lansing's proposals, along with recommendations from the other state conventions, and worked them into the amendments he drafted for the federal Constitution. These amendments were ratified by Congress in late 1791.

The achievement for which Jones is perhaps most celebrated was his pivotal role in the New York state ratification convention of June–July 1788. One of the most contentious conventions, it was uncommon in that anti-Federalists, led by Governor George Clinton, held a strong majority over Federalists, outnumbering them 2-1. The anti-Federalists demanded ratification only on the condition that a bill of rights be included. After much deadlock, Jones engineered a breakthrough by proposing a subtle but critical change in the wording of the ratification resolution. He suggested replacing the phrase "on condition that" a bill of rights would follow with "in full confidence that" it would. This linguistic shift allowed the Federalists to accept the resolution without legally binding the state to a conditional ratification, while reassuring the anti-Federalists that their demands would be met. The compromise secured ratification by a razor-thin margin of 31–29, the narrowest of any state convention. This victory not only ensured the Constitution's legitimacy and survival, but also paved the way for the adoption of the Bill of Rights three years later.

In the years that followed the convention Jones served in numerous offices for the state of New York, including the Recorder for New York City from 1789-97, as a member of the New York Senate from 1791-99, and as the first New York state Comptroller--no doubt using this set as reference to fulfill the duties of these varying roles.