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2,915 results for “our constitution is on life support”

Historic Document · May 29, 2012
Of the Present Ability of America, with Some Miscellaneous Reflexions
virtue. Can we but leave posterity with a settled form of government, an independant constitution of it’s own, the purchase at any price will be cheap. But to expend … naval force in time of peace, if we should not judge it necessary to support a constant navy. If premiums were to be given to merchants, to build and employ
Historic Document · May 29, 2012
Thoughts on the Present State of American Affairs
with her. The commerce, by which she hath enriched herself are the necessaries of life, and will always have a market while eating is the custom of Europe … thing; for this continent would never suffer itself to be drained of inhabitants, to support the British arms in either Asia, Africa, or Europe. Besides, what have
Historic Document · May 29, 2012
Of the Origin and Design of Government in General, with Concise Remarks on the English Consitution
midst of a wilderness, but ONE man might labour out the common period of life without accomplishing any thing; when he had felled his timber he could not remove … common interest with every part of the community, they will mutually and naturally support each other, and on this (not on the unmeaning name of king) depends the STRENGTH
Historic Document · May 29, 2012
Of the Dissolution of Government
conquest upon them: for in that case, (not being able to maintain and support themselves, as one intire and independent body ) the union belonging to that body which consisted therein … combined together into one coherent living body. This is the soul that gives form, life, and unity to the common-wealth: from hence the several members have their mutual influence
Historic Document · May 29, 2012
Of Tyranny
stands, from all violence and harm whatsoever; than which there cannot be a wiser constitution: for the harm he can do in his own person not being likely to happen … lawfully. The reason whereof is plain; because the one using force, which threatened my life, I could not have time to appeal to the law to secure it: and when
Historic Document · May 29, 2012
Of the Extent of the Legislative Power
obeying the most desperate orders, can yet, with all his absolute power of life and death, dispose of one farthing of that soldier’s estate, or seize … nothing to do with it. Sect. 140. It is true, governments cannot be supported without great charge, and it is fit every one who enjoys his share of the protection
Historic Document · May 29, 2012
Of Political or Civil Society
right or power of either naturally necessary to those ends, viz . procreation and mutual support and assistance whilst they are together; but only decides any controversy that may arise between … wife about them. If it were otherwise, and that absolute sovereignty and power of life and death naturally belonged to the husband, and were necessary to the society between
Historic Document · May 29, 2012
Of Paternal Power
piety , which they indispensably owe to their parents all their life-time, and in all estates, with all that support and defence is due to them, gives the father … otherwise; so they laid the foundations of hereditary, or elective kingdoms, under several constitutions and mannors, according as chance, contrivance, or occasions happened to mould them. But if princes have
Historic Document · May 29, 2012
Of Property
mutual consent men would take in exchange for the truly useful, but perishable supports of life. Sect. 48. And as different degrees of industry were apt to give men possessions … wild common of nature, whatever was more than would supply the conveniencies of life to be had there for him and his family. Sect. 49. Thus in the beginning
Historic Document · May 29, 2012
Certain General and Miscellaneous Objections to the Constitution Considered and Answered
treatise of ethics than in a constitution of government. But a minute detail of particular rights is certainly far less applicable to a Constitution like that under consideration, which … Great Britain form its Constitution, and conversely the constitution of each State is its bill of rights. And the proposed Constitution, if adopted, will be the bill of rights
Historic Document · May 29, 2012
The Judiciary Continued
contribute more to the independence of the judges than a fixed provision for their support. The remark made in relation to the President is equally applicable here. In the general … seen cause to lament the want of precise and explicit precautions in the State constitutions on this head. Some of these indeed have declared that permanent(1) salaries should
Historic Document · May 29, 2012
The Appointing Power Continued and Other Powers of the Executive Considered
persons whose chief merit is their implicit devotion to his will, and to the support of a despicable and dangerous system of personal influence, are questions which, unfortunately … only be the subjects of speculation and conjecture. Every mere council of appointment, however constituted, will be a conclave, in which cabal and intrigue will have their full scope. Their
Historic Document · May 29, 2012
The Senate Continued
examples support the reasoning which we have employed. In Sparta, the Ephori, the annual representatives of the people, were found an overmatch for the senate for life, continually gained … back the Constitution to its primitive form and principles. Against the force of the immediate representatives of the people, nothing will be able to maintain even the constitutional authority
Historic Document · May 29, 2012
The Alleged Tendency of the New Plan to Elevate the Few at the Expense of the Many Considered in Connection with Representation
frequent and flagrant, both in public and in private life. But the universal and extreme indignation which it inspires is itself a proof of the energy and prevalence … frequent elections. Hence, in the fourth place, the House of Representatives is so constituted as to support in the members an habitual recollection of their dependence on the people. Before
Historic Document · May 29, 2012
The Particular Structure of the New Government and the Distribution of Power Among Its Different Parts
pleases to consult them, one of his constitutional councils. One branch of the legislative department forms also a great constitutional council to the executive chief, as, on another hand … another department, the fundamental principles of a free constitution are subverted. This would have been the case in the constitution examined by him, if the king, who is the sole
Historic Document · May 29, 2012
The Same Subject Continued (The Powers Conferred by the Constitution Further Considered)
attainder of treason shall work corruption of blood, or forfeiture, except during the life of the person attained.” As treason may be committed against the United States, the authority … have, with great judgment, opposed a barrier to this peculiar danger, by inserting a constitutional definition of the crime, fixing the proof necessary for conviction of it, and restraining
Historic Document · May 29, 2012
The Same Subject Continued, and the Incoherence of the Objections to the New Plan Exposed
final success by a voluntary renunciation, first of his country, and then of his life. If these lessons teach us, on one hand, to admire the improvement made by America … being desperate, that it may be made to issue in an improvement of his constitution. They are equally unanimous in prescribing the remedy, by which this happy effect
Historic Document · May 29, 2012
Concerning the General Power of Taxation
revenue, must necessarily be empowered to extend. It must embrace a provision for the support of the national civil list; for the payment of the national debts contracted, or that … considered as the vital principle of the body politic; as that which sustains its life and motion, and enables it to perform its most essential functions. A complete power, therefore
Historic Document · May 29, 2012
The Same Subject Continued (The Idea of Restraining the Legislative Authority in Regard to the Common Defense Considered)
considered as having any relation to the intrinsic merits or demerits of a constitution. These can only be judged of by general principles and maxims. Various reasons have been suggested … citizens are accustomed to meet with it in the common occurrences of their political life, the more it is familiarized to their sight and to their feelings, the further
Historic Document · May 29, 2012
The Same Subject Continued (The Insufficiency of the Present Confederation to Preserve the Union)
obedience and attachment. It is that which, being the immediate and visible guardian of life and property, having its benefits and its terrors in constant activity before the public … reasoning on this head has been abundantly exemplified by the experience of all federal constitutions with which we are acquainted, and of all others which have borne the least analogy