AN INQUIRY INTO THE PRINCIPLES AND POLICY OF THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES. BY JOHN TAYLOR, OF CAROLINE COUNTY, VIRGINIA Taylor, John AMERICANA,HOWES,LAW,SOUTHERN,VIRGINIA

First edition. 8vo. viii, 656, [1, errata] pp. Full contemporary calf [rubbed], red morocco spine label. Early leaves and endpapers lightly foxed. Endpapers with child's pencil scrawl and 1869 ownership signature. Minor wear and light foxing. About Very Good. "The major political treatise by Taylor, one of the Southern supporters of Jefferson, who opposed the centralization of power in the hands of the federal government. It was in large part a reply to John Adams's Defence of the Constitution (1787)" [Libertyfund online]. "Unlike Adams, he rejects the concept of 'a natural aristocracy' of 'paper and patronage' and a federal government based on a system of debt and taxes. He considers the American government to be one of divided powers responsible to the sovereign people alone. Opposed to the extent of power awarded to the executive office, he calls for shorter terms for the president and all elected officers. Charles Beard said this work 'deserves to rank among the two or three really historic contributions to political science which have been produced in the United States.' He served in the Continental Army and later in the Virginia House of Delegates, then served three terms as a member of the United States Senate. He is considered to be one of the nation's greatest philosophers of agrarian liberalism. He was one of the nation's first proponents of states' rights" [goodreads on line]. FIRST EDITION. Howes T63aa. Cohen 5823.