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At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 85,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World through the end of the twentieth century.

Smith, Gerrit, 1797-1874 The true office of civil government. A speech in the city of Troy.

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC04717.03 Author/Creator: Smith, Gerrit, 1797-1874 Place Written: New York, New York Type: Pamphlet Date: 1851 Pagination: 1 v. : 29 p. : Height: 23.5 cm, Width: 15 cm Order a Copy

Printed by S. W. Benedict. Smith declares, "The legitimate action of Civil Government is very simple. Its legitimate range is very narrow. Government owes nothing to its subjects but protection... from crimes... committed against their persons and possessions." Also argues against the union of Church and State and discusses tariffs.

Smith, Gerrit, 1797-1874
Benedict, Seth Williston, 1803-1869

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