Posts Tagged ‘American Founding Era’
Commentaries on the Constitution of the United States: Preface
Founders Corner Library Commentaries on the Constitution of the United States, by Joseph Story, 1833 Volume 1, PREFACE I now offer to the public another portion of the labours devolved on me in the execution of the duties of the Dane Professorship of Law in Harvard University. The importance of the subject will hardly be doubted by any [...]
Madison’s Notes: Federal Convention of 1787: August 7
Liberty Letters, 7 August 1787, James Madison Editor's Summary: The Report of the Committee of detail was taken up. Col. Mason doubted the propriety of giving each branch a negative on the other "in all cases." Debated. Point of interest: Rufus King could not think there would be a necessity for a meeting every year. A great vice in our [...]
Samuel Adams—We Cannot Make Events
American Correspondence Shortly before the signing of the Declaration of Independence, Samuel Adams corresponds with his friend, Reverend Samuel Cooper—a guiding light of American independence and pastor of the Congregationalist Church on Brattle Street in Boston. We cannot make Events. Our Business is wisely to improve them. There has [...]
Fisher Ames: Equality Number 4 — Democratic Thinker
American Debate In a series of papers published in 1801, Fisher Ames unleashes one of the Federalist’s most scathing attacks on the Anti-Federalist’s unbridled democratic principles. Ames does so by drawing their principles to their logical conclusions—illustrating his conclusions with the unprincipled actions of the European democrats [...]
Fisher Ames: Equality Number 2 — Democratic Thinker
American Debate In a series of papers published in 1801, Fisher Ames unleashes one of the Federalist’s most scathing attacks on the Anti-Federalist’s unbridled democratic principles. Ames does so by drawing their principles to their logical conclusions—illustrating his conclusions with the unprincipled actions of the European democrats [...]
Christian Freemen — John Dickinson
Liberty Letters Quote of the Day, John Dickinson Let us consider ourselves as MEN — FREEMEN — CHRISTIAN FREEMEN — separated from the rest of the world, and firmly bound together by the same rights, interests and dangers. Let these keep our attention inflexibly fixed on the GREAT OBJECTS, which we must CONTINUALLY REGARD, in order to [...]
A Rare Phenomena! — Steve Farrell
by Steve Farrell It is a rare phenomena, but sometimes Johnny-come-lately political movements get it right. Case in point: The Tea Party Revolution's wise choice to hold up the The United States Constitution rather than the Republican Party as the standard, the true red, white and blue American Ensign to which we must rally to save our [...]
Madison’s Notes — The Federal Convention of 1787 — June 30
Liberty Letters, 30 June 1787, James Madison Mr. BREARLY moved that the President. write to the Executive of New Hampshire, informing it that the business depending before the Convention was of such a nature as to require the immediate attendance of the deputies of that State. In support of his motion he observed that the difficulties of the [...]
Contemptable Naked Capitalists — John Dickinson
Liberty Letters Quote of the Day, 1767, John Dickinson Some states have lost their liberty by particular accidents. But this calamity is generally owing to the decay of virtue. A people is traveling fast to destruction, when individuals consider their interests as distinct from those of the public. Such notions are fatal to their country, and to [...]
Independence Resolution — Richard Henry Lee
Liberty Letters Quote of the Day, 7 June 1776, Richard Henry Lee Resolved, That these United Colonies are, and of a right, ought to be, free and independent States, that they are absolved, from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally [...]
John Leland: Tireless Champion of Religious Liberty
Political Sermons, Founding Era, 1754-1841, John Leland bio John Leland (1754–1841). A key figure in the rise of religious liberty in America, the Baptist minister John Leland had two careers, one in Massachusetts, the other in Virginia. His only formal education was in the elementary schools of Grafton, Massachusetts, his birthplace, yet he [...]
Right to Revolution — Alexander Hamilton
Liberty Letters, 23 Feb. 1775, The Farmer Refuted, Alexander Hamilton I shall, for the present, pass over to that part of your pamphlet, in which you endeavor to establish the supremacy of the British Parliament over America. After a proper eclaircissement (1) of this point, I shall draw such inferences, as will sap the foundation of every thing [...]
The Dignity of Man — Nathanael Emmons
Founding Era Political Sermons, 1787, Nathanael Emmons Shew thyself a Man. 1 Kings 2.2 David closed the scene of life, with that propriety of conduct, and that composure of mind, which at once displayed the beauty of religion, and the dignity of human nature. When the time of his departure drew nigh, he had nothing to do to prepare for [...]
Madison’s Notes: Federal Convention of 1787: June 2
Liberty Letters, June 2, 1787, James Madison SATURDAY JUNE 2d 1 IN COMMITTEE OF WHOLE * 2 *William Saml. Johnson from Connecticut, Daniel of St. Thomas Jennifer, from Maryd. & John Lansing Jr. from N. York, took their seats. It was movd. & 2ded. to postpone ye Resol: of Mr. Randolph respecting the Executive, in order to take up [...]
Madison’s Notes — Federal Convention of 1787 — June 1, 1787
Liberty Letters, June 1, 1787, James Madison FRIDAY JUNE 1st 1787 William Houston from Georgia took his seat. The Committee of the whole proceeded to Resolution 7. 1 "that a national Executive be instituted, to be chosen by the national Legislature — for the term of ______ years &c to be ineligible thereafter, to possess the executive [...]
