"Marshall's political views crystalized by this time. His pragmatic nature resisted the adoption of a large number of a priori principles, but on four issues his views were firm. He believed in a strong central government, the supremacy of the constitution, the necessity for an independent judiciary, and the inalienable right to possess, enjoy, and augment private property. Marshall's views were consistent with the major current of eighteenth-century American thought. Locke, Blackstone, Hume, and Montesquieu - the writers most cited in postcolonial America - stressed that the purpose of government was to protect private rights, especially the right to property, and that the tyranny of the majority was as much to be feared as the tyranny of the crown." - John Marshall by Jean Edward Smith
This brings up two excellent question. What is the purpose of a government? We've become so used to just having one we've lost the meaning of their purpose. Second, how does the inalienable right to property jive with the government coercing the de-banking of an individual?
Based on your recommendation, I bought a copy. I did not notice however it is 752 pages! It will be a while before I get to it, I am still reading Barbarossa Unleashed which is almost as long. No regrets having the book and I look forward to a good read.
ReplyDeleteHonestly I had that book for a number of years before I determined Ihad enough time to digest it. No complaint so far.
ReplyDeleteWill add Barbarossa Unleashed to my reading list too.