The Works of the Honourable James Wilson, L.L.D.Reprint of the rare first edition. Contains important early commentaries on the U.S. Constitution by one of the most influential delegates to the Federal Constitutional Convention and one of the six founding fathers who signed both the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution, later an Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. The Works are comprised mostly of lectures delivered in 1790-1791 at the College of Philadelphia. They cover several aspects of public and private law, such as the common law, general principles of the law of nations and the law of nature, the U.S. Constitution, crime, obligations and property. The texts of several important speeches given at the Federal Convention and his rousing oration celebrating Pennsylvania's adoption of the Constitution on July 4, 1788 are also included. Many of these pieces are important early commentaries on the Constitution. Three volumes. |
From inside the book
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Page iii
... whole subject in one season : three courses were neces- sary for the purpose . The first course , which was deli- vered in the winter of 1790-91 , consisted of those lectures contained in what the Editor has entitled the first part ...
... whole subject in one season : three courses were neces- sary for the purpose . The first course , which was deli- vered in the winter of 1790-91 , consisted of those lectures contained in what the Editor has entitled the first part ...
Page xiv
... the press . On the whole , however , the Editor trusts , that they will not be thought unworthy , either in style or sentiment , of the reputation of their Author . CONTENTS OF THE FIRST VOLUME . LECTURES ON LAW . xiv PREFACE .
... the press . On the whole , however , the Editor trusts , that they will not be thought unworthy , either in style or sentiment , of the reputation of their Author . CONTENTS OF THE FIRST VOLUME . LECTURES ON LAW . xiv PREFACE .
Page 3
... whole of my very respectable audience is as much distinguished by its politeness , as a part of it is distinguished by its brilliancy . From that politeness , I shall receive — what I feel I Of the study of the law in the United States,
... whole of my very respectable audience is as much distinguished by its politeness , as a part of it is distinguished by its brilliancy . From that politeness , I shall receive — what I feel I Of the study of the law in the United States,
Page 18
... whole form of government established by that people ; reduces all the members to their original state of equality ; and , by annihilating the sovereign power , repeals all positive laws whatsoever before enacted . No human laws will ...
... whole form of government established by that people ; reduces all the members to their original state of equality ; and , by annihilating the sovereign power , repeals all positive laws whatsoever before enacted . No human laws will ...
Page 23
... whole annals of the Transatlantick world , it will be difficult to point out a single instance of its legitimate institution I will go further , and say , that , among all the political writers of the Transatlantick world , it will be ...
... whole annals of the Transatlantick world , it will be difficult to point out a single instance of its legitimate institution I will go further , and say , that , among all the political writers of the Transatlantick world , it will be ...
Contents
3 | |
55 | |
107 | |
145 | |
179 | |
CHAPTER VI | 229 |
CHAPTER VII | 283 |
CHAPTER VIII | 319 |
CHAPTER X | 383 |
CHAPTER XI | 425 |
Common terms and phrases
act of parliament ancient appear appointed arise authority cause cerning character Cicero citizens civil common law commonwealth concerning consent consequence considered constitution court of equity crimes criminal degree duty election England equally established evidence executive exercise existence favour happiness honour human important inferiour instance institution judges judgment judicial jurisdiction jurors jury justice kind king knowledge law of England law of nations law of nature legislative legislature LEGUM liberty Lord Lord Bacon Lord Coke manner marriage matter ment mind moral municipal law necessary object obligation observed occasion operations opinion original parliament party peace Pennsylvania person philosophers possessed principles proper publick reason received regard republick Roman rule Saxons says senate sense sentiments Sir William Blackstone society sovereign superiour suppose things tion trial trial by jury truth unanimous United verdict virtue vote
Popular passages
Page 56 - ... her seat is the bosom of God, her voice the harmony of the world : all things in heaven and earth do her homage, the very least as feeling her care, and the greatest as not exempted from her power : both Angels and men and creatures of what condition soever, though each in different sort and manner, yet all with uniform consent, admiring her as the mother of their peace and joy.
Page 56 - Of law there can be no less acknowledged, than that her seat is the bosom of God, her voice the harmony of the world ; all things in heaven and earth do her homage, the very least as feeling her care, and the greatest as not exempted from her power...
Page 113 - Could great men thunder As Jove himself does, Jove would ne'er be quiet ; For every pelting, petty officer, Would use his heaven for thunder ; nothing but thunder.
Page 452 - An Act for the further Limitation of the Crown, and better securing the Rights and Liberties of the Subject...
Page 259 - I may venture to affirm of the rest of mankind that they are nothing but a bundle or collection of different perceptions which succeed each other with an inconceivable rapidity and are in a perpetual flux and movement.
Page 295 - God loves from whole to parts : but human soul Must rise from individual to the whole. Self-love but serves the virtuous mind to wake, As the small pebble stirs the peaceful lake ; The centre mov'd, a circle straight succeeds, Another still, and still another spreads ; Friend, parent, neighbour, first it will embrace ; His country next, and next all human race ; Wide and more wide, th...
Page 51 - Having undertaken, for the glory of God and advancement of the Christian faith and honor of our king and country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the northern parts of Virginia...
Page 412 - While from the bounded level of our mind, Short views we take, nor see the lengths behind; But more advanc'd, behold with strange surprise New distant scenes of endless science rise!
Page 93 - It will be sufficient to observe that our assurance in any argument of this kind is derived from no other principle than our observation of the veracity of human testimony, and of the usual conformity of facts to the reports of witnesses.