Posts Tagged ‘classics’
Peace, Easy Taxes, Justice — Adam Smith
Liberty Letters Quote of the Day, Adam Smith Little else is required to carry a state to the highest degree of affluence from the lowest barbarism but peace, easy taxes, and a tolerable administration of justice; all the rest being brought about by the natural course of things. All governments which thwart the natural course are unnatural, and to [...]
No Other Patron Necessary — Algernon Sidney
Liberty Letters Quote of the Day, Algernon Sidney This appears so plainly in Scripture, that the assertors of liberty want no other patron than God himself; and his word so fully justifies what we contend for ... Magna Charta could give nothing to the people, who, in themselves, had all; and only reduced into a small volume, the rights which the [...]
Madison’s Notes — The Federal Convention of 1787 — June 29
Liberty Letters, 29 June 1787, James Madison Editor's Summary: Doctor Johnson asserts "the States ... must be armed with some power of self-defense," thus the House should represent the people, the Senate the states. Mr. Ghorum says districts within the states feared becoming part of a state government; their fears were unfounded. Read pleads for [...]
Madison’s Notes — Federal Convention of 1787 — June 25
Liberty Letters, 25 June 1787, James Madison MONDAY. JUNE 25. IN CONVENTION Editor's Summary: Pinkney, at length, explores the system, history, and roots of the British Constitution, dubbing it the best in existence (to date), but wrong for the United States. State and county rights considered and largely defended by Pinkney, Ghorum, Wilson, [...]
Madison’s Notes — The Federal Convention of 1787 — June 23
Liberty Letters, Saturday, 23 June 1787, James Madison The 3. Resolution: resumed. 1 On 2 Question yesterday postponed by S. Carol: for agreeing to the whole sentence "for allowing an adequate compensation to be paid out of the Treasury of the U. States" Masts. ay. Cont. no. N. Y. no. N. J. ay. Pena. ay Del. no. Md. ay. Va. ay. N. C. no. S. C. [...]
Madison’s Notes — The Federal Convention of 1787 — June 22
Liberty Letters, 22 June 1787, James Madison FRIDAY JUNE 22. IN CONVENTION The clause in Resol. 3. 1 "to receive fixed stipends to be paid out of the Nationl. Treasury" 2 considered. Mr. ELSEWORTH, moved to substitute payment by the States out of their own Treasurys: observing that the manners of different States were very different in the [...]
Madison’s Notes — The Federal Convention of 1787 — June 20
Liberty Letters, June 20, 1787, James Madison WEDNESDAY JUNE 20, 1787. 1 IN CONVENTION Editors Overview: Edmund Randolph argues for the new plan to be ratified by the people. John Lansing Jr. understands that any representative, however elected, would have the natural duty of representing the state collectively. Col. Mason noted that in [...]
Madison’s Notes — The Federal Convention of 1787 — June 19
Liberty Letters, June 19, 1787, James Madison TUESDAY JUNE 19th. IN COMMITTEE OF 1 WHOLE ON THE PROPOSITIONS OF MR. PATTERSON The substitute offered yesterday by Mr. Dickenson being rejected by a vote now taken on it; Con. N. Y. N. J. Del. ay. 2 Mas. Pa. V. N. C. S. C. Geo. no. 3 Mayd. divided. Mr. PATTERSON's plan was again at large before [...]
Madison’s Notes — The Federal Convention of 1787 — June 18
Liberty Letters, June 18, 1787, James Madison The Moral Liberal summary: Alexander Hamilton makes the case for republican government modeled after the British Constitution, it being the only one in the world uniting public strength with individual security. He praises its mixed representation, checks and balances, and the greater stability and [...]
Madison’s Notes — The Federal Convention of 1787 — June 16
Liberty Letters, June 16, 1787, James Madison SATURDAY JUNE 16th. IN COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE ON 1 RESOLUTIONS PROPOSD. BY MR. P. & MR. R Mr. LANSING called for the reading of the 1st. resolution of each plan, which he considered as involving principles directly in contrast; that of Mr. Patterson says he sustains the sovereignty of the [...]
Did Locke Really Justify Limited Government? — Joseph R. Stromberg
Free Enterprise Zone, The Freeman, Joseph R. Stromber John Locke (1632–1704) was a physician, statesman, and political philosopher, filling that last office in a dry, “empirical,” and militantly antipoetic English mode. Locke’s stock has risen and fallen over the years. Contemporaries called him a Socinian (a precursor of Unitarianism), a [...]
Madison’s Notes — The Federal Convention of 1787 — June 14-15
Liberty Letters, June 14-15, 1787, James Madison THURSDAY JUNE 14. IN CONVENTION 1 Mr. PATTERSON, observed to the Convention that it was the wish of several deputations, particularly that of N. Jersey, that further time might be allowed them to contemplate the plan reported from the Committee of the Whole, and to digest one purely federal, [...]
Madison’s Notes — The Federal Convention — June 13
Liberty Letters, June 13, 1787, James Madison WEDNESDAY JUNE 13. IN COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE Resol: 9 1 being resumed The latter parts of the clause relating to the jurisdiction of the Natil. tribunals, was struck out nem. con in order to leave full room for their organization. Mr. RANDOLPH & Mr. MADISON, then moved the following [...]
Madison’s Notes — The Federal Convention — June 12
Liberty Letters, June 12, 1787, James Madison TUESDAY JUNE 12th. IN COMMITTEE OF 1 WHOLE The Question 2 taken on Resolution 15, 3 to wit, referring the new system to the people of the 4 States for ratification it passed in the affirmative: Massts. ay. Cont. no. N. Y. no. N. J. no. Pa. *5 ay. Del. divd. Md. divd. Va. ay. N. C. ay. S. C. ay. [...]
Madison’s Notes — The Federal Convention of 1787 — June 11
Liberty Letters, June 11, 1787, James Madison MONDAY JUNE 11th. MR. ABRAHAM BALDWIN FROM GEORGIA TOOK HIS SEAT. IN COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE The clause concerning the rule of suffrage in the natl. Legislature postponed on Saturday was resumed. Mr. SHARMAN proposed that the proportion of suffrage in the 1st. branch should be according to the [...]
Madison's Notes, The Federal Convention, June 9
Liberty Letters, June 9, 1787, James Madison SATURDAY JUNE 9th. MR. LUTHER MARTIN FROM MARYLAND TOOK HIS SEAT IN COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE Mr. GERRY, according to previous notice given by him, moved "that the National Executive should be elected by the Executives of the States whose proportion of votes should be the same with that allowed to the [...]
Madison's Notes — Federal Convention of 1787 — June 8
Liberty Letters, June 8, 1787, James Madison FRIDAY JUNE 8th. IN COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE On a reconsideration of the clause giving the Natl. Legislature a negative on such laws of the States as might be contrary to the articles of Union, or Treaties with foreign nations, Mr. PINKNEY moved "that the National Legislature shd. have authority to [...]
Madison's Notes — Federal Convention of 1787 — June 6, 1787
Liberty Letters, June 6, 1787, James Madison WEDNESDAY JUNE 6th IN COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE Mr. PINKNEY according to previous notice & rule obtained, moved "that the first branch of the national Legislature be elected by the State Legislatures, and not by the people." contending that the people were less fit Judges in such a case, and that [...]
Madison's Notes — Federal Convention of 1787 — June 5, 1787
Liberty Letters, June 5, 1787, James Madison TUESDAY JUNE 5. IN COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE GOVERNOR Livingston from 1 New Jersey, took his seat. The words, "one or more" were struck out before "inferior tribunals" as an amendment to the last clause of Resoln. 9th 2 The Clause — "that the National Judiciary be chose by the National [...]
Madison's Notes, Federal Convention of 1787, June 4, 1787
Liberty Letters, June 4, 1787, James Madison MONDAY JUNE 4th 1 IN COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE The Question was resumed on motion of Mr. PINKNEY 2ded. by 2 WILSON, "shall the blank for the number of the Executive be filled with a single person?" Mr. WILSON was in favor of the motion. It had been opposed by the gentleman from Virga. but the [...]
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 — May 30, 1787
Liberty Letters, May 30, 1787, James Madison WEDNESDAY MAY 30 Roger Sherman (from Connecticut) took his seat. The House went into Committee of the Whole on the State of the Union. Mr. Gorham was elected to the Chair by Ballot. The propositions of Mr. RANDOLPH which had been referred to the Committee being taken up. He moved on the suggestion [...]
Culture In The Rye — Selwyn Duke
By Selwyn Duke Many years ago, I was told a story by a woman I knew whose son had been diagnosed with “A.D.D.” She said that she finally had to take from her boy a book a therapist had given him about how an A.D.D. child acts. The problem? Her son was reading it and then imitating the behavior of the child in it! Then I remember when [...]
Madison's Notes — Federal Convention of 1787 — May 29, 1787
Liberty Letters, May 29, 1787, James Madison TUESDAY MAY 29 1 John Dickenson, and Elbridge Gerry, the former from Delaware, the latter from Massts. took their seats. The following rules were added, on the report of Mr. Wythe from the Committee —2 Additional rules. 2 That no member be absent from the House, so as to interrupt the [...]
Madison's Notes — Federal Convention of 1787 — May 28, 1787
Liberty Letters, May 28, 1787, James Madison MONDAY MAY 28 1 2 From Massts. Nat: Gorham & Caleb Strong. From Connecticut Oliver Elseworth. From Delaware, Gunning Bedford. From Maryland James McHenry. From Penna. B. Franklin, George Clymer, Ths. Mifflin & Jared Ingersol took their seats. Mr. WYTHE from the Committee for preparing rules [...]
Madison's Notes — Federal Convention of 1787 — May 14, 25
Liberty Letters, May 14, 25, 1787, James Madison Monday May 14th 1787 was the day fixed for the meeting of the deputies in Convention for revising the federal system of Government. On that day a small number only had assembled. Seven States were not convened till, Friday 25 of May, when the following members 2 appeared to wit: see Note A. 3 viz, [...]
The Federalist No. 10 — James Madison
by James Madison The Utility of the Union as a Safeguard Against Domestic Faction and Insurrection (continued) AMONG the numerous advantages promised by a well constructed Union, none deserves to be more accurately developed than its tendency to break and control the violence of faction. The friend of popular governments never finds himself so [...]
The Federalist No. 9 — Alexander Hamilton
by Alexander Hamilton The Utility of the Union as a Safeguard Against Domestic Faction and Insurrection A FIRM Union will be of the utmost moment to the peace and liberty of the States, as a barrier against domestic faction and insurrection. It is impossible to read the history of the petty republics of Greece and Italy without feeling [...]
The Federalist No. 8 — Alexander Hamilton
by Alexander Hamilton The Consequences of Hostilities Between the States ASSUMING it therefore as an established truth that the several States, in case of disunion, or such combinations of them as might happen to be formed out of the wreck of the general Confederacy, would be subject to those vicissitudes of peace and war, of friendship and [...]
The Federalist No. 7 — Alexander Hamilton
by Alexander Hamilton Concerning Dangers from Dissensions Between the States (continued) IT IS sometimes asked, with an air of seeming triumph, what inducements could the States have, if disunited, to make war upon each other? It would be a full answer to this question to say -- precisely the same inducements which have, at different times, [...]
