The Life and Times of Thomas Smith, 1745-1809: A Pennsylvania Member of the Continental Congress |
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The Life and Times of Thomas Smith, 1745-1809: A Pennsylvania Member of the ... Burton Alva Konkle No preview available - 2016 |
The Life and Times of Thomas Smith, 1745-1809: A Pennsylvania Member of the ... Burton Alva Konkle No preview available - 2016 |
Common terms and phrases
appear appointed April Arthur St Assembly Atlee became Bedford county bench Biddle Brackenridge brother called Carlisle Charles Smith Chief Justice Circuit Clair Clymer Colonel Smith colonies committee Common Pleas Congress convention Council court house Court of Errors Cumberland Cumberland county delegates Deputy district docket duty Edward Shippen election favor February Fort Pitt frontier Galbraith Gazette George Bryan George Clymer Governor Half-tone High Court honor Huntingdon Indians James Smith James Wilson January Jasper Yeates John Judge Smith Judge Yeates July Lancaster land late later letter Lukens March McKean ment Mifflin miles November October opinion Penn Pennsylvania Archives Philadelphia possession practice present Prothonotary Province Provost record Renne says September session Shippen Slains Castle soon Supreme Court Surveyor term Thomas McKean Thomas Mifflin Thomas Smith Tilghman tion Virginia voted Washington West William Smith writes wrote
Popular passages
Page 116 - When the legislative and executive powers are united in the same person, or in the same body of magistrates, there can be no liberty; because apprehensions may arise lest the same monarch or senate should enact tyrannical laws, to execute them in a tyrannical manner.
Page 116 - Were it joined with the legislative, the life, liberty, and property of the subject would be in the hands of arbitrary judges, whose decisions would be then regulated only by their own opinions, and not by any fundamental principles of law, which, though legislators may depart from, yet judges are bound to observe. Were it joined with the executive, this union might soon be an overbalance for the legislative.
Page 132 - When fifty or sixty men have a Constitution to form for a great empire, at the same time that they have a country of fifteen hundred miles in extent to fortify, millions to arm and train, a naval power to begin, an extensive commerce to regulate, numerous tribes of Indians to negotiate with, a standing army of twenty-seven thousand men to raise, pay, victual, and officer, I really shall pity those fifty or sixty men.
Page 28 - Hills by the English, and by the Indians [ ] on the North side of them to the Head of a Creek which runs into the West Branch of...
Page 78 - We are resolved to clear every part of the old rubbish out of the way and begin upon a clean foundation. You know that experimental philosophy was in great repute fifty years ago, and we have a mind to try how the same principle will succeed in politics ! You learned fellows who have warped your understandings by poring over musty old books, will perhaps laugh at us; but, know ye, that we despise you.
Page 60 - I am sorry it is not in my power to comply with your proposal of easing the prisoners for a few days of their fetters. Much as my humanity may be touched by their sufferings, I should think it inexpedient to afford them any alleviation while they persist in a breach of their contract with me; and, indeed, no indulgence...
Page 73 - I believe we might have at least prevented ourselves from being ridiculous in the eyes of the world were it not for a few enthusiastic members who are totally unacquainted with the principles of government. It is not only that their notions are original, but they would go to the devil for popularity, and in order to acquire it, they have embraced leveling principles, which you know is a fine method of succeeding.
Page 29 - ... said River Ohio, by the several Courses thereof, to where the western Bounds of the said Province of Pennsylvania crosses the same River; and then, with the said Western Bounds to the south Boundary thereof, and with the south Boundary aforesaid, to the East side of the...
Page 134 - The Ariel frigate, commanded by the gallant Paul Jones, fired a feu de joie, and was beautifully decorated with a variety of streamers in the day, and ornamented with a brilliant appearance of lights in the night.