 |
James Wilson: Founder and Constitutional Visionary
| |
| | Unformatted Document Text:
house while it was attacked by supporters of the Pennsylvania constitution. In this attack, one in
Wilson’s group seeking refuge in the house was killed along with five of the attackers.
12
Despite
this most unpleasant experience, his great faith in democracy would become evident over the
next decade and more.
In the 1780s he represented Pennsylvania in the Confederation Congress at two different
times and also at the Federal Convention in Philadelphia in 1787. After the Federal Convention
in Philadelphia, Wilson next turned his focus to the Pennsylvania Ratifying Convention where he
was the only delegate who had also been at the former. As such, be became the leader of the
pro-ratification faction. He began his defense of the proposed constitution with his “State House
Yard Speech” delivered on October 6, 1787.
13
Gordon S. Wood, in The Creation of the
American Republic, 1776-1787, states Wilson’s speech became the foundation of all arguments
used by Federalists in promoting the ratification of the constitution.
14
Once the constitution was ratified, Wilson’s ambition was once again on display as he
lobbied President George Washington for the position of chief justice of the newly established
Supreme Court.
15
This lobbying proved futile, of course, as Washington appointed John Jay to
the position. He was, however, appointed to the position of associate justice, a position he held
from October, 1789, until his death in August, 1798.
Justice Wilson’s most significant opinion was in Chisholm v Georgia (1793) in which the
court, with seriatim opinions by five justices, held “the people of the United States” intended to
bind the states by the legislative, executive, and judicial powers of the national government.
16
12
, 136
13
, 22.
14
, 530.
15
16
5
|
| | Authors: Alcorn, J. Mark. |
|
| |
|
|
house while it was attacked by supporters of the Pennsylvania constitution. In this attack, one in
Wilson’s group seeking refuge in the house was killed along with five of the attackers.
this most unpleasant experience, his great faith in democracy would become evident over the
next decade and more.
In the 1780s he represented Pennsylvania in the Confederation Congress at two different
times and also at the Federal Convention in Philadelphia in 1787. After the Federal Convention
in Philadelphia, Wilson next turned his focus to the Pennsylvania Ratifying Convention where he
was the only delegate who had also been at the former. As such, be became the leader of the
pro-ratification faction. He began his defense of the proposed constitution with his “State House
Yard Speech” delivered on October 6, 1787.
Gordon S. Wood, in The Creation of the
American Republic, 1776-1787, states Wilson’s speech became the foundation of all arguments
used by Federalists in promoting the ratification of the constitution.
Once the constitution was ratified, Wilson’s ambition was once again on display as he
lobbied President George Washington for the position of chief justice of the newly established
This lobbying proved futile, of course, as Washington appointed John Jay to
the position. He was, however, appointed to the position of associate justice, a position he held
from October, 1789, until his death in August, 1798.
Justice Wilson’s most significant opinion was in Chisholm v Georgia (1793) in which the
court, with seriatim opinions by five justices, held “the people of the United States” intended to
bind the states by the legislative, executive, and judicial powers of the national government.
12
, 136
13
, 22.
14
, 530.
15
16
5
|
|
 Convention | | All Academic Convention makes running your annual conference simple and cost effective. It is your online solution for abstract management, peer review, and scheduling for your annual meeting or convention. | | Submission - Custom fields, multiple submission types, tracks, audio visual, multiple upload formats, automatic conversion to pdf. | | Review - Peer Review, Bulk reviewer assignment, bulk emails, ranking, z-score statistics, and multiple worksheets! | | Reports - Many standard and custom reports generated while you wait. Print programs with participant indexes, event grids, and more! | | Scheduling - Flexible and convenient grid scheduling within rooms and buildings. Conflict checking and advanced filtering. | | Communication - Bulk email tools to help your administrators send reminders and responses. Use form letters, a message center, and much more! | | Management - Search tools, duplicate people management, editing tools, submission transfers, many tools to manage a variety of conference management headaches! | | Click here for more information. |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
