James McHenry, Forgotten Federalist

Acknowledgments

ix I owe many a debt of gratitude. It must be said, however, that meeting Paul Finkelman proved an important day for me. Little did either of us know that his trip years ago to lecture for teachers and academics in western New York would wind up with his helping to publish this book. Paul Finkelman is not only President William McKinley Distinguished Professor of Law and Public Policy and Senior Fellow at the Government Law Center at Albany Law School, but he also co-edits the series on Studies in the Legal History of the South at the University of Georgia Press, in which this book is published. He was pleased to hear that I had been writing a biography of James McHenry, who had attended the Constitutional Convention , and Professor Finkelman indicated that such a book should be published . Then he gave me his card. When the time came, he brought it to the attention of his co-editors and proceeded to give it a meticulous reading with an extremely valuable critique that helped me improve the book enormously . This was in addition to the comments and constructive criticism of two other anonymous reviewers. So I am most grateful to him for taking such an interest in my work. I also appreciate the support of the two other editors of the series, Nancy Grayson (former executive editor, University of Georgia Press) and Timothy Huebner (L. Palmer Brown Professor of Interdisciplinary Humanities at Rhodes College). Nancy Grayson especially helped, patiently taking the time to shepherd my project through the process of getting the book accepted by the press. As she has recently retired, her assistant editor Beth Snead has graciously guided me since, exhibiting an unfailing good nature in response to my many questions. John Joerschke (project editor at the University of Georgia Press) then took up my case and kindly directed the book to its publication, while Kay Kodner, copyeditor, helped immensely Acknowledgments x acknowledgments to improve the grammar and style of the book. The professionalism of the people at the University of Georgia Press is to be admired. Another scholar, T. Stephen Whitman, whom I was fortunate to meet at a weeklong seminar hosted by the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History and who taught at Mount St. Mary’s University in Maryland, gave the manuscript a thorough and thoughtful perusal. His careful reading helped to give the book much greater clarity. Thanks also go to the Journal of the Early Republic and Maryland Historical Magazine for permitting me to include in this book, in revised form, articles that I first published through their presses. Andrea Ashby, library technician at the Independence National Historical Park, gathered together many of the photographic images for me, which are published with that organization ’s permission. I would also like to express my thanks to Saint Bonaventure University. Theresa Shaffer, head reference and interlibrary loan librarian at the university , is every scholar’s dream. No document is too difficult for her to find. If it is not readily found, she considers this a challenge to be met. The university also provided a Keenan Grant for research in Maryland, and Dean Wolfgang Natter has supplied funds for photographic materials in this book. In addition, the History Department, especially my chair Professor Phillip Payne, has always found words of encouragement for this project. My son, Daniel L. Tate IV, has never failed to encourage my work, understanding my need to write this book. No one, however, can best my husband , Daniel L. Tate, for listening to endless issues regarding McHenry, reading countless drafts, and always supporting me in every way that I needed. To all I wish to express my thanks. James McHenry, Forgotten Federalist This page intentionally left blank ...