Beacon Lights of History, Volume 11

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Beacon Lights of History,
Volume 11

The Project Gutenberg eBook, Beacon Lights of History, Volume XI,
by John Lord
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Title: Beacon Lights of History, Volume XI
Author: John Lord
Release Date: January 8, 2004 [eBook #10644]
Language: English
Character set encoding: iso-8859-1
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LIGHTS OF HISTORY, VOLUME XI***
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LORD'S LECTURES
BEACON LIGHTS OF HISTORY, VOLUME XI
AMERICAN FOUNDERS.
BY JOHN LORD, LL.D.,
AUTHOR OF "THE OLD ROMAN WORLD," "MODERN
EUROPE," ETC., ETC.

PUBLISHERS' PREFACE.
Dr. Lord's volume on "American Statesmen" was written some years
after the issue of his volume on "Warriors and Statesmen," which was
Volume IV of his original series of five volumes. The wide popular
acceptance of the five volumes encouraged him to extend the series by
including, and rewriting for the purpose, others of his great range of
lectures. The volume called "Warriors and Statesmen" (now otherwise
distributed) included a number of lectures which in this new edition
have been arranged in more natural grouping. Among them were the
lectures on Hamilton and Webster. It has been deemed wise to bring
these into closer relation with their contemporaries, and thus Hamilton
is now placed in this volume, among the other "American Founders,"
and Webster in the volume on "American Leaders."
Of the "Founders" there is one of whom Dr. Lord did not treat, yet
whose services--especially in the popular confirmation of the
Constitution by the various States, and notably in its fundamental
interpretation by the United States Supreme Court--rank as vitally
important. John Marshall, as Chief Justice of that Court, raised it to a
lofty height in the judicial world, and by his various decisions
established the Constitution in its unique position as applicable to all
manner of political and commercial questions--the world's marvel of
combined firmness and elasticity. To quote Winthrop, as cited by Dr.

Lord, it is "like one of those rocking-stones reared by the Druids, which
the finger of a child may vibrate to its centre, yet which the might of an
army cannot move from its place."
So important was Marshall's work, and so potent is the influence of the
United States Supreme Court, that no apology is needed for introducing
into this volume on our "Founders" a chapter dealing with that great
theme by Professor John Bassett Moore, recently Assistant Secretary of
State; later, Counsel for the Peace Commission at Paris; and now
occupying the chair of International Law and Diplomacy in the School
of Political Science, Columbia University, New York City.
NEW YORK, September, 1902.

CONTENTS.
PRELIMINARY CHAPTER.
THE AMERICAN IDEA.
Basis of American institutions Their origin The Declaration of
Independence Duties rather than rights enjoined in Hebrew Scriptures
Roman laws in reference to rights Rousseau and the "Contrat Social"
Calvinism and liberty Holland and the Puritans The English
Constitution The Anglo-Saxon Laws The Guild system Teutonic
passion for personal independence English Puritans Puritan settlers in
New England Puritans and Dutch settlers compared Traits of the
Pilgrim Fathers New England town-meetings Love of learning among
the Puritan colonists Confederation of towns Colonial governors
Self-government; use of fire-arms Parish ministers Religious freedom
Growth of the colonies The conquest of Canada Colonial discontents
Desire for political independence Oppressive English legislation Denial
of the right of taxation James Otis and Samuel Adams The Stamp Act
Boston Port Bill British troops in Boston The Battle of Lexington
Liberty under law
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN.

DIPLOMACY.
Birth of Franklin His early days Leaves the printer's trade Goes to
Philadelphia Visit to England Returns to Philadelphia Prints a
newspaper Establishes the "Junto" Marries Deborah Reid Establishes a
library "Poor Richard" Clerk of the General Assembly Business
prosperity Retirement from business Scientific investigations Founds
the University of Pennsylvania Scientific inventions Franklin's
materialism Appointed postmaster-general The Penns The Quakers
Franklin sent as colonial agent to London Difficulties and annoyances
Acquaintances and friends Returns to America Elected member of the
Assembly English taxation of the colonies English coercion Franklin
again sent to England At the bar of the House of Commons Repeal of
the Stamp Act Franklin appointed agent for Massachusetts The
Hutchinson letters Franklin a member of the Continental Congress Sent
as envoy to France His tact and wisdom Unbounded popularity in
France Embarrassments in raising money The recall of Silas Deane
Franklin's useful career as diplomatist Associated with John Jay and
John Adams The treaty of peace Franklin returns to