American Minute

August 21

He was one of six founding fathers to sign both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.

President Washington appointed him to the Supreme Court.

Born in Scotland, he was an active delegate at the Constitutional Convention, speaking 168 times.

His name was James Wilson and he died AUGUST 21, 1798.

The first law professor of the University of Pennsylvania, James Wilson wrote in his Lectures on Law, 1789-91:

"Law...communicated to us by reason and conscience...has been called natural; as promulgated by the Holy Scriptures, it has been called revealed...

But it should always be remembered, that this law, natural or revealed...flows from the same divine source; it is the law of God."

James Wilson continued:

"Human law must rest its authority, ultimately, upon the authority of that law, which is divine."

The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania records in Updegraph v. Commonwealth, 1824:

"The late Judge James Wilson, of the Supreme Court of the United States, Professor of Law in the College in Philadelphia...for our present form of government we are greatly indebted to his exertions...

In his Course of Lectures (3d Vol. of his Works, 122), he states that...'Christianity is part of the common-law.'"

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