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Founder's Quotes - James Wilson
The Patriot Post - Others ^ | 12/13/2007 | James Wilson

Posted on 12/13/2007 6:59:50 AM PST by Loud Mime

James Wilson was a signer of the Declaration of Independence, delegate from Pennsylvania
to the Constitutional Convention, member of the Committee on Detail, and second only to
Madision as the principal architect of the Constitution. He was a fervent advocate of ratification,
and served as a delegate to the Pennsylvania Ratification Convention. He later served as Associate
Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, and Professor of Law in the College of Philadelphia, which
merged with the University of Pennsylvania in 1791. He planned a treatise on law to succeed the
Commentaries of William Blackstone, for which the Lectures on Law" 1790-92 was a preliminary
effort, and stands as an important guide to interpreting the Constitution. One of his audience was
George Washington. He did not live long enough to complete that planned treatise, but what he did
complete does shed much light on the original meanings and intentions of the Framers.

"In observations on this subject, we hear the legislature mentioned as the people's representatives.
The distinction, intimated by concealed implication, through probably, not avowed upon reflection,is,
that the executive and judicial powers are not connected with the people by a relation so strong or near
or dear. But is high time that we should chastise our prejudices;
and that we should look upon the different parts of government with a just and impartial eye.
James Wilson (Lectures on Law, 1791) Source

"Liberty and happiness have a powerful enemy on each hand;
on the one hand tyranny, on the other licentiousness [anarchy].
To guard against the latter, it is necessary to give the proper
powers to government; and to guard against the former, it is
necessary that those powers should be properly distributed."
James Wilson

"Liberty and security in government depend not on the limits,
which the rulers may please to assign to the exercise of their
own powers, but on the boundaries, within which their powers are
circumscribed by the constitution. With us, the powers of
magistrates, call them by whatever name you please, are the
grants of the people . . . The supreme power is in them; and in
them, even when a constitution is formed, and government is in
operation, the supreme power still remains. A portion of their
authority they, indeed, delegate; but they delegate that portion
in whatever manner, in whatever measure, for whatever time, to
whatever persons, and on whatever conditions they choose to fix."
U.S. Supreme Court Justice James Wilson (Lectures, 1790-1791)

“[T]o model our political systems upon speculations of lasting tranquillity would be to calculate on the weaker springs of human character.”
Alexander Hamilton

"This country and this people seem to have been made for each other, and it appears as if it was the design of Providence that an inheritance so proper and convenient for a band of brethren, united to each other by the strongest of ties, should never be split into a number of unsocial, jealous, and alien sovereignties.
John Jay (Federalist No. 2)


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism
KEYWORDS: foundingfathers; quotes
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To: Loud Mime; Publius

Thank you. I know that there are a lot of scholars on these threads, so I read every post. But I thank you nonetheless for the ping to that of Publius. Publius, I thank you for participating so generously.

LM, vis-a-vis the other ‘better’ post, I was talking about your ‘brief’ review of the incorporation clause and the 10th, 14th and 17th ammendments. You said that if it was insufficient information, you would put together a better summary. It’s not necessary. An education is fulfilling only if one strives assiduously. You know the theory about things hard-earned.

Have a great day, gentlemen.


21 posted on 12/14/2007 7:38:43 AM PST by definitelynotaliberal
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To: definitelynotaliberal

You are most gracious - and eloquent!

Have a wonderful weekend!


22 posted on 12/14/2007 5:57:14 PM PST by Loud Mime (Hell on Earth: Clinton here, Putin there)
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To: Loud Mime
"This country and this people seem to have been made for each other, and it appears as if it was the design of Providence that an inheritance so proper and convenient for a band of brethren, united to each other by the strongest of ties, should never be split into a number of unsocial, jealous, and alien sovereignties. John Jay (Federalist No. 2)

If this guy witnessed the antics of Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid, he would call for another revolution.
23 posted on 12/14/2007 5:59:50 PM PST by aruanan
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