THE

RIGHTS

OF AN

AMERICAN CITIZEN;

WITH A

COMMENTARY ON

STATE RIGHTS,

AND ON THE

CONSTITUTION AND POLICY

O F THE

UNITED STATES.

BY BENJAMIN L. OLIVER,

COUNSELLOR AT LAW.

BOSTON:

PUBLISHED BY MARSH, CAPEN & LYON. PHILADELPHIA: P. H. NICKLIN & T. JOHNSON.

1832.

HARVARD COLLEGE LIBRARY

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1832, by BENJAMIN L. OLIVER, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Massachusetts.

WAITT AND DOW'S PRESS-BOSTON.

39-242

39

PREFACE.

THE importance of the subjects discussed in the following pages, to every citizen of the United States, at all times, must be very apparent. But, at the present moment, they have a peculiar interest. For, as the American people profess to act from principle; and, as a misapprehension of their rights, in their various complicated relations, at this critical and alarming conjuncture, may lead them into measures of great responsibility, the consequences of which may be irreparable and attended with never ceasing regret, it is presumed, that an attempt to define those rights, though it should be only partially successful, will not incur their censure.

The expectation, however, of receiving the approbation of all, is by no means entertained. For, as the public sentiment is divided on many of the subjects comprised in the present work, such an expectation could have no other ground, than one to which the author disclaims all pretensions; that of an ability to convince those persons who have formed different opinions. All that he asks of his readers, therefore, is, with relation to political subjects, that they