Considerations on the Nature and Extent of the Legislative Authority of the British Parliament
Considerations on the Nature and Extent of the Legislative Authority of the British Parliament
CONSIDERATIONS ON THE NATURE AND EXTENT OF THE LEGISLATIVE AUTHORITY OF THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT. 1774. An updated version of a pamphlet John Wilson had originally written in 1768, Considerations on the Nature and Extent of the Legislative Authority of the British Parliament was a publication that advocated the central tenet of Wilson's political philosophy: "All power is derived from the people." The pamphlet affirmed Wilson's support for the idea of direct representation, and thereby rejected the notion that the interests of the colonies could be represented in Parliament by non-residents. Wilson believed that Parliament had no legislative authority over the colonies, who were united with Britain only through the person of the monarch. Even then, Wilson argued, the king's prerogative power could be vetoed by the colonial assemblies. While his ideas were an important step in the rejection of parliamentary authority, Wilson shied away from dissolving the connection with the king and clung to a hope of reconciliation well into 1776. Yet, as a delegate to the Second Continental Congress, when the die was cast, he voted for independence and signed the Declaration of Independence.
SEE ALSO Wilson, James.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
McCloskey, Robert G., ed. The Works of James Wilson. 2 vols. Cambridge, Mass,: Harvard University Press, 1967.
revised by Harold E. Selesky