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. |
Contents
| 3 | |
| 55 | |
| 107 | |
CHAPTER IV | 145 |
CHAPTER V | 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.