A Constitutional History of the American People: 1776-1850

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Harper & brothers, 1898 - Political Science
 

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Page 4 - ... he shall be chosen to represent, or any ratable estate to the value of two hundred pounds ;] and he shall cease to represent the said town immediately on his ceasing to be qualified as aforesaid.
Page 63 - Some men look at constitutions with sanctimonious reverence, and deem them like the ark of the covenant, too sacred to be touched. They ascribe to the men of the preceding age a wisdom more than human, and suppose what they did to be beyond amendment. I knew that age well : I belonged to it, and labored with it. It deserved well of its country. It was very like the present, but without the experience of the present...
Page 475 - No person, who is not already a freeman of this state, shall be entitled to exercise the privileges of a freeman, unless he be a natural born citizen of this, or some one of the United States, or until he shall have been naturalized, agreeably to the acts of congress.
Page 3 - Every member of the house of representatives shall be chosen by written votes ; and, for one year at least next preceding his election, shall have been an inhabitant of, [and...
Page 203 - In this point of view, a senate, as a second branch of the legislative assembly, distinct from, and dividing the power with, a first, must be in all cases a salutary check on no the government. It doubles the security to the people, by requiring the concurrence of two distinct bodies in schemes of usurpation or perfidy, where the ambition or corruption of one, would otherwise be sufficient.
Page 333 - The same act which transfers their country transfers the allegiance of those who remain in it; and the law, which may be denominated political, is necessarily changed, although that which regulates the intercourse and general conduct of individuals remains in force until altered by the newly created power of the State.
Page 199 - ... prosecutions, by indictment or information, a speedy public trial by an impartial jury. He shall not be compelled to give evidence against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, but by due course of law.
Page 63 - We have erred in this point, by copying England, where certainly it is a good thing to have the judges independent of the King. But we have omitted to copy their caution also, which makes a judge removable on the address of...
Page 427 - The legislature shall have no power to pass any law sanctioning in any manner,- directly or indirectly, the suspension of specie payments, by any person, association or corporation issuing bank notes of any description.
Page 333 - On such transfer of territory, it has never been held that the relations of the inhabitants with each other undergo any change. Their relations with their former sovereign are dissolved, and new relations are created between them and the government which has acquired their territory. The same act which transfers their country transfers the allegiance of those who remain in it...

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