New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-09-13

the colonies. In his pamphlet on this s"o'e0'
he anticipated the Declaration OF independence
In way that was noteworthy by saying ~"
men are by nature. equal and free no one nus
a right to any authority over announcer "'"o"
his consent: all lawful government IL founded
on the consent of those who are supJec' " -
such consent was given with a view to insure
and 70 increase the happiness of the governed
above what they could enjoy in an independent
and unconnected state of nature. The cohse-
ouence IS that the happiness Of the society Is 'hc
first law Of every government" These state
rncnts as well as the corresponding assertions
in the Declaration Of Independence have oech
disnuted by those who insist that there IL ho
such thing as a natural right. and that the po-
Ntical contract handy as IL is for writer's OH INC
theory Of government, is nevertheless myth
Emf these objections do not affect HISTORICAL
disnute as to the origin of the Declaration MI
Andrews takes hand in this controversy oy uF-
nvng that the document owed anything ~
French sources. 1t is English throusho"'' "0
declares, written with English principles Oh 'o-
or,v in Wow and fortified with constant refer
o,,ca 70 English precedent Wilson'S own words
.,,,o, ca long before the outbreak Of the Revo-
,tior mako II plain at least that Scottish THINK
inc had something to do with the prevalence OF
these opinions in America. With his views aS
TO the individual man he could haru's say '
than he did say. But he supported MS genera
proposition by showing how the BRUSH rar'ia-
want did not represent the colonists even In
theory He narrowed the whole OF h'i''s" "u
,hor,tv over the colonies to direct dependence or
those ON the crown. and he placed before the
people Of America all there was III 'he way "a
law or legal decision on the suDlec''
That was work enough for one year. Up 70
,la 1pI on
~. But the next year. keeping step with the
march Of events. he showed in a speech TO a
PENNSYLVANIA Convention the Illegally or the
attempts of English Ministers to change the
charter of Massachusetts Bay. Like his Fellow
colonists he still accepted professedly at least
the tradition that the King can do no wrong
But he took occasion in this speech TO point out
the reasons for loyalty on the part OF brltlsh
subjects to British monarch. He answered u!
anticipation all the objections to the theory Oh
contract as the basis Of the English GoVerhheh'
and, by consequence. of the British SUBJECTS OH
tbie side of the ocean to the King in London
"IIoweyer difficult it may be-" he exclaimed In
other States, to prove an original contract SUD
sisting in any other manner and on any o'ner
conditions than are naturally and necessarily
implied in the very idea Of the first institution
Of a State II is tho easiest thing imaginable
since the revolution OF 1GSS, to prove IL III oui
Constitution and to ascertain some of the ma
terial articles of which it consists" Quoting
Bolingbroke he added: 1T binds the King as Wen
as the meanest subject" Thus he made II very
clear what the next step would be If the contract
which he said had often been broken anu as
often renewed were TO be broken again
After the trouble with the King was over
there came an even more serious ullHcuitI'
that of creating new nation. In inns TASK
! also Wilson had his share throughout the an
| archie period of the old CONFEDERATION ana IN
! the convention that framed the Constitution as
! we'll as in the tempest of opposition which was
| raised in Pennsylvania against the proposed
| Federal Union. His speech to the State Con-
vention is said to have had an important effect
on the minds Of the delegates III is one
in which something has to be read be-
ing men who were overlooking with rae
! tiious loyalty to their own State, and he Ia
| bored with success 10 calm their apprehensions
His favorite doctrine Of the sovereignty OF the
! individual man is not put forward sui the
| impression which he gives Is that or an adVo-
| cate for all the people OF America appearing 10
the people of a single division Of the country.
! He does not disguise the fact that Pennsyl-
! vania if she accepted the Constitution and en-
tered the proposed Union. must give up some or
the powers and liberties which she claimed.
These powers would not revert to the people
| of the State but would be transferred to the
whole body of Americans In the Constitution
offered for acceptance all authority would De
derived from the people II Will be found upon
| investigation that Wilson's subsequent teach
! ings as the first professor of law in the United
States go forward from this point. 1t is pos
sible to disagree with him. 1t Is not possible
to deny the singleness Of purpose with which
he insisted the supremacy of the people as
a body made up of individuals.