1. Did the words and actions of the framers of the Constitution show that the Federal Government is prohibited from controlling slavery in the territories?
2. Did the First Congress, which contained a part of these framers and which understood their intentions, show that it believed the Federal Government to be prohibited from controlling slavery in the territories?
The foregoing introduction shows well the brevity and directness which should characterize the first division of a brief. The subject-matter indicates the impartial manner in which the subject is discussed throughout the introduction. Nothing is stated which requires proof. The speaker selects common ground upon which both parties to the controversy have agreed to stand. From this position he leads his opponents by logical steps to the arguments which he advances. When the student has once found the main issues he should eliminate all useless steps in the analysis and present with clearness and force the necessary parts of the process which lead directly to the proof.
5. The main statements in the proof should correspond to the main issues set forth in the introduction, and should read as reasons for the truth of the proposition.
The object of the introduction to the brief is to set forth the main issues. In like manner the object of the proof is to set forth the evidence which supports these main issues. Therefore the main issues constitute the main headings of the second division of the brief. Moreover, these main issues must all read directly as reasons for the truth of the proposition. To illustrate this rule, let us consider the following example.
BRIEF
Proposition: Resolved, that the policy of protection should be abandoned by the United States.
INTRODUCTION
I. }
} (First part of introduction omitted)