The story of the Constitution of the United States by Francis Newton Thorpe.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Thorpe, Francis Newton, 1857-1926.

Series:

Making of Modern Law: Legal Treatises, 1800-1926: American Law.

Studies (Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle)

The Making of Modern Law: Legal Treatises, 1800-1926: American Law

Studies / Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Constitutional history--United States.

Constitutional history.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (208 p. ) map

Place of Publication:

New York, N.Y. : Chautauqua Press, 1891.

Summary:

The story of the Constitution is of truth stranger than fie tion. It is natural to attribute to an institution throughout its history that reputation which it bears in our own day. Many men are yet living who remember with startling dis tinctness a time when the Constitution seemed merely a piece of parchment; when the fate of the nation was as uncertain as the course of battle; when stern necessity compelled so liberal an interpretation of the supreme law of the land that states men refrained from forming conclusions on the tendency Of national administration, and, looking hopefully forward, sought new meanings in events where before they had sought interpretation by a construction Of words. Then, and not till then, in our history was the Constitution of the United States understood in its spirit as being the expression of the nation's mind, Whatever that mind might be. But no man now living can remember the angry days when the Constitu tion was yet a hope or a proposition debated between jealous States and still more jealous political leaders. NO one can re member the living opinions which, at the close of the eight eenth century, so nearly triumphed, and whose triumph would have dissolved a feeble union of States and encouraged the horrors of an anarchy only possible in a democracy. When the Opinions on national government in America to-day and opinions Of a century ago are contrasted, it is difficult to be lieve that we are the children of our fathers.

Notes:

Description based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources.

Reproduction of original from Harvard Law School Library.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

OCLC:

60721039