Still the question lingers. Would these men of reason and realism, merchants and lawyers, tread on the issue of slavery differently had they been able to foresee the future? The fundamental fact remains that they wanted a new nation. The price of holding on to the original thirteen colonies was slavery. It was a price that history records they were willing for others to pay.

Acknowledgments

In the writing of this book, special thanks are due to Nils and Carolyn Schoultz for constant support and encouragement. Without them and others like them who showered their love on me during difficult times, this book would not have been possible.

I wish to thank my editor, David Highfill, for his careful attention to detail, his encouragement, and most of all his patience in my delivery of the manuscript.

And finally to my literary agent, Esther Newberg of ICM, I owe thanks for placing this book with a caring publisher and for exercising sound business judgment, which she always does.

About the Author

Steve Martini is the author of numerous New York Times bestsellers including Double Tap, The Arraignment, The Jury, The Attorney, and others featuring defense attorney Paul Madriani. Martini has practiced law in California in both state and federal courts and has served as an administrative law judge and supervising hearing officer. He lives in the Pacific Northwest.

www.stevemartini.com