Category: Today

On January 20, 1920, the American Civil Liberties Union was founded.

On January 19, 1808, Lysander Spooner was born. Spooner’s achievements in American life, law, and political philosophy, are among the most colorful of the 19th century. He sued to practice law, and won the suit. He set up a postal service that directly competed with the United States Postal Service, delivering mail at a fraction of the cost. He wrote “The Unconstitutionality of Slavery,” and convinced noted Garrisonian abolitionist Frederick Douglass of his argument. (The book became the centerpiece of intellectual ammunition for the Free Soil Party.) Later in life Spooner turned against constiutionalism itself, and penned some of the most radical political works of his day, including “Vices Are Not Crimes” and “The Constitution of No Authority.” Spooner also clearly articulated a “jury nullification” position in his classic treatise “Trial by Jury.”

On January 18, 1689, Montesquieu, French satirist and philosopher, was born. His treatise “The Spirit of the Laws” was a major influence of America’s founding generation.

On January 17, 1937, Chicago School economist George Stigler was born. Stigler won a Nobel Memorial Prize for his work. His delightful autobiography is entitled “Memoirs of an Unregulated Economist.”

On January 16, 1930, conservative writer Norman Podhoretz was born.

On January 15, 1777, New Connecticut (present day Vermont) declared its independence.

January 14 is New Year’s Day according to the old, Julian Calendar. On January 14, 1514, Pope Leo X issued a papal bull against slavery. On the same date in 1639, the first written constitution to create a government, the “Fundamental Orders,” was adopted in Connecticut.

On January 10, 1776, Thomas Paine published Common Sense.

On January 9, 1788, Connecticut became the fifth state to be admitted to the United States.

The basis of our political system is the right of the people to make and to alter their constitutions of government.