The Story Of Anglo Saxon Institutions: Or The Development Of Constitutional Government (1904)

The Story of Anglo-Saxon Institutions or The Development of Constitutional Government By Sidney C. Tapp, Ph. B G. P. Putnams Sons New York and London Gbe ftntcfeerbocfeet press 1904 To THE GREAT COMMON PEOPLE WHO PRODUCE THE WEALTH AND PAY THE TAXES OF ORGANIZED SOCIETY IN TIMES OF PEACE AND FIGHT ITS BATTLES IN TIMES OF WAR THIS WORK IS DEDICATED PREFACE THIS work Is not intended as a text - book In his tory, law, or the science of government. While it has been necessary to refer to historical facts and to point out some of the basic principles of republican government, the reader must remember that these are mere incidents, and not the real purpose of the work. The purpose of the writer has been to demonstrate from historical facts that the Anglo-Saxon race Is the only race that has ever had a true conception of republican Institutions or solved cor rectly the problem of self-government. In this connection the writer has done his best to point out the oppressions of other schools of government and the frauds of kings and monarchs, and at the same time to show, from historical Information, the strug gles of the people to dethrone the privileged classes and to obtain self-government, so that the American people may appreciate this Republic and maintain It in Its original purity and simplicity. If the writer has succeeded in quickening the consciences of the readers of these pages, in some degree, to the ap preciation of our free Institutions, he has been amply compensated for his effort. The subject-matter has been condensed and stripped of all technicalities In order that it may be appreciated by the average citizen, if he wishes to read it. S. C. T. ATLANTA, GEORGIA, January, 1904.CONTENTS CHAPTER I PAGE SOVEREIGNTY . I CHAPTER II DELEGATED POWERS IO CHAPTER III CONSTITUTIONS THE DIFFERENT KINDS AND THEIR PURPOSE 25 CHAPTER IV THE ORIGIN OF CONSTITUTIONAL AND POPULAR GOVERNMENT 35 CHAPTER V THE EARLY STATE OF POPULAR GOVERNMENT . 41 CHAPTER VI AN ANCIENT COMPARISON 46 CHAPTER VII THE BEGINNING OF THE ANGLO-SAXON IDEAS IN ENGLAND 5 I vii viii Contents CHAPTER VIII THE ANGLO-SAXON HEPTARCHY .... 56 CHAPTER IX THE INVASIONS OF THE NORMANS 60 CHAPTER X CONCESSIONS OF WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR AND THE TRIUMPH OF THE SAXONS ... 65 CHAPTER XI THE MAGNA CHARTA 72 CHAPTER XII THE RESULTS OF THE CONFLICT BETWEEN SAXON INSTITUTIONS AND NORMAN POWERS . . 8l CHAPTER XIII THE ORGANIZATION OF THE THREE ESTATES OF THE REALM 87 CHAPTER XIV THE WAR BETWEEN THE CROWN AND THE BARONS 9 CHAPTER XV THE DAYS OF EDWARD THE FIRST . . . . IOO CHAPTER XVI A BLOT ON THE ENGLISH GOVERNMENT, LAWS, AND CONSTITUTION Ill CHAPTER XVII A WORD AS TO OLD IRELAND 123 Contents ix CHAPTER XVIII SCOTLAND 131 CHAPTER XIX THE BEGINNING OF THE REIGN OF LAW . . . 139 CHAPTER XX GOTHISM 146 CHAPTER XXI MONARCHY AND DEMOCRACY AS DEMONSTRATED IN FRANCE 156 CHAPTER XXII THE PROTEST AGAINST THE USURPATION OF CHURCH AND STATE IN ENGLAND . 77 CHAPTER XXIII THE DECLINE OF FEUDALISM AND THE RISE OF AR BITRARY MONARCHY 185 CHAPTER XXIV THE OVERTHROW OF ARBITRARY MONARCHY AND THE CREATION OF CONSTITUTIONAL MON ARCHY ....... 196 CHAPTER XXV THE PLANTING OF ANGLO-SAXON PRINCIPLES IN AMERICA 212 CHAPTER XXVI THE CLASSES VS. THE MASSES 226 CHAPTER XXVII THE CONCLUSION 235 THE STORY OF ANGLO-SAXON INSTITUTIONS CHAPTER I SOVEREIGNTY SOVEREIGNTY is ordinarily defined as the supreme power in the body-politic. It has been definedas the essence of power from which flow emanations of power The body-politic is the organism in unity of human beings, associated together for the purpose of the social state, in which is vested all rightful powers over its members for the common welfare of all. This power so vested is sovereignty. The de jure body-politic is the real sovereign and principle, while the government or the de facto body politic is the agent or representative...