New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-04-04
THE ORIGIN AND GROWTH OF THE ENGLISH
CONSTITCTION By Hannis Taylor. Vol l.,
svo. PIP ri GIG. boston and New York llousl-

THE ORIGIN AND GROWTH OF THE ENGLISH
CONSTITUTION. BY Hanns Taylor Vol !,
f sxN Min ri * ( Co. Co.. ''''''' a'D '' ~
In this work Mr.. Taylor has undertaken an ambitions
taskwithn the limits OF two octave volumes TO unfold
the story Of the evolution Of constitutional government
from It's rudmentary Teutonic form to IFS hnal
development into the Federal system of the United
states Bnt he has brought TO the prosecution OF the
work indefatgable industry, thorough familiarity with
lie whole range Of constitutional history and PHI
Io,ophy and lively enthusiasm that CLOVIS through
every page of his writings. HIS central th0ucht-ua'
The Government OF the United states Is not the result
Of special creation but Of evolution-is not IN Itself
,ovel But the steps of the development the proc
csses Of the evolution, here traced and anayzed
with precision and completeness that promise to add
much 10 the resources Of the student Of historical phil
osophy.
The present volume affords ample proof Of the ade-
ouatc equipment Of the author for his task NJ times
tho STYLE is labored and Mr.. Taylor shows undue
fondness Of ponderous phrases and forms OF expression
Int the thought OF the writer is always clear ana Ms
logic so Joined t1Searnesness that these minor defects
IL they really defects. are easily forgotten lie
carries the doctrine of political evolution to the ut
most limits. The founders Of the American Republlc
he insists entirely unconscious Of the extent 70
which through their agency, the essential character Of
the English form Of government was beng Reproduced
ly them In the Federal Constitution. If II had been
scheme o. government devised by them II could never
received the recognition Oh
much less have successfully stood the test OF eX-
perience But the settlers along the Atlantic Coast
from the Penobsco to the Gulf Of Mexico brought with
them to America the influences Of the OLD forms Of
English constitutional government They soon emerged
from the first stage, namely that Of subsection to a
corporation created by royal authority, into the form
Of colonial government with an executive head, a
iudicfarv and legislative assembly whose limitations
were prescribed by royal charter When such colony
finally became independent State 1t continued
substantially the form Of government substituting
only constitution for the royal charter and In some
instances even this change was one merely OF name
The requsitioa system upon which the confederation
or league OF the States founded represented 10
advance and soon disclosed its weaknesses and I'M
practicabity. The exigencies OF that occasion
brought forth what Mr.. Taylor considers the most
important and farreaching political principle to when
Our career as a nation has so far given BIRTH, namely
that the Federal head should operate directly on III
dividuals and not states. In the establishment Of
that urincple by the construction OF a composite
staten with It's legislative, executive ana judiciary
6epa,tmcnts the trainers Of the Constitution were led
mot nv choice or voluntarily but by the force OF cir
cunstances into the reproduction of the English con
stItutional system In substantially inc iofm IN WHICH
IL had rcappeared in the several states.
For the complete demonstration OF this conclusion.
Mr. TAYLOR rightly believes that the history Of this
Inter development cannot be severed from mat OF c
earlier and more tedious process OF growth which made
n posslbc' The first part OF the authors work con-
FAMED in this first volume covers the time extending
from tie Teutonic conquest to the end of the Middle
Ages-the period Of the making Of the constitution
In his recital Of the events OF TINS period MI Taylor
has not discovered and has not sought 10 discover new
acids Of historical knowledge. But he has succeeded
n nrcsentng the Of events that constantly tend
IN the final development of the principles underlying
our constitutional form Of government and shown 50
clearly their relation the results that every student
OF constitutional history will find In these pages new
sources of proft and instruction well as pleasure