On Wednesday, January 21, 2026, Catholic Law's Professor Derek Webb gave a lecture on his research on the Constitution’s lost and forgotten “cover letter” to students at Emory Law School in Atlanta, Georgia. The event was co-sponsored by both Emory Law School’s American Constitution Society and Federalist Society chapters.

Webb presented insights from his forthcoming book, which explores how both American lawyers and citizens have overlooked the Constitution’s "cover letter." In this letter, George Washington urged a “spirit of amity” among citizens. Webb highlighted how the letter was frequently referenced during the founding debates but was mysteriously lost in the late 19th century. He argued that this forgotten letter offers a glimpse into the framers’ original vision of public debate—likened to a “furnace” that is hot enough to uncover truth and separate fact from fiction, yet not so intense as to destroy participants or eliminate the possibility of compromise. Following his presentation, Webb engaged in a lively discussion with Professor Sasha Volokh, a nationally recognized expert in administrative law and the First Amendment, before fielding questions from students.