Brief Enquiry into the True Nature and Character of Our Federal Government: Being a Review of Judge Story's Commentaries on the Constitution of the United States, 1840

The political philosophy that would later guide the Confederacy. Originally published: Petersburg: Printed by Edmund and Julian C. Ruffin, 1840. iv,132 pp. This work is a classic statement of the political principles that would later guide the leaders of the Confederacy. It was such a fine exposition, in fact, that it was reprinted in 1863 by Northern Democrats as a guide to the political philosophy of the Confederacy.

ABEL PARKER UPSHUR [1791-1844], a Virginia judge, politician and spokesman for states-rights and pro-slavery southern conservative ideology, served as secretary of the navy and secretary of state under President Tyler.