Sidney George Fisher

Sidney George Fisher (March 2, 1809 – July 25, 1871) was a Philadelphia lawyer, farmer, plantation owner, diarist, political essayist and occasional poet.

Early life and education Sidney George Fisher was the eldest of three sons born to James Logan Fisher and Ann Eliza George. His father died when he was five and his mother when he was 12, leaving Sidney and his brothers a considerable inheritance. The three boys—Sidney, James, and Charles—went to live with their aunt Sarah Logan at the family's ancestral home, Wakefield, in Germantown. He was educated at Germantown Academy and Dickinson College. Though he begrudged the practice of law, he had friends and relatives in the legal profession, whom he aided infrequently when his assistance was requested.

Marriage and children Fisher married Elizabeth Ingersoll, granddaughter of Jared Ingersoll and daughter of his mentor, on May 28, 1851. The couple had one son, historian Sydney George Fisher (1856–1927). A few years after his marriage, the family moved to a country residence owned by the Ingersolls called "Forest Hill", located about four miles north of Philadelphia, and that remained Sidney Fisher's home until he died.

Trial of the Constitution Title page of The Trial of the Constitution (courtesy of University of California and Google Books)Fisher's most influential and profound achievement was his book The Trial of the Constitution published in 1862.

A major feature of the book was Fisher's discussion of habeas corpus in the United States, and especially whether a U.S. president has any power to suspend that right. Fisher took the position that U.S. constitutional law regarding habeas corpus was much closer to the British practice under the Habeas Corpus Act 1679 than Fisher's contemporaries such as Horace Binney would admit. More generally, this book by Fisher asserted that precedents from England had been undervalued in U.S. constitutional interpretation, and that they warranted greater recognition. According to Neely, Fisher's book was also unique for its time in that it argued for greater congressional power relative to the other branches of government. In the end, though, Neely considers Fisher to be "marginal to debate" because of (among other things) his eccentricities, racism, lack of realism, and Anglophilia.

Death Fisher suffered from an illness (probably rheumatism) that only the sulfur waters at Richfield Springs, New York seemed to alleviate. He died on July 25, 1871. After his death, his wife and son moved to Germantown, where she died in May 1872.

Published works Kanzas and the Constitution (Damrell & Moore, 1856) (under the pseudonym—Cecil) Winter Studies in the Country (Parry and M'Millan, 1856) Rustic Rhymes (Parry & McMillan, 1859) The Law of the Territories (C. Sherman & Son, 1859) The Laws of Race, as Connected with Slavery (W. P. Hazard, 1860) The Trial of the Constitution (J.B. Lippincott & Co., 1862; reprints in 1969, 1972, 2003) A National Currency (J.B. Lippincott & Co., 1864)

Orations The Annual Address delivered before the Belles-lettres and Union Philosophical Societies of Dickinson College, Carlisle, Pa. July 18, 1838 (Carlisle, Pennsylvania: Printed by George M. Philips, 1838) Address delivered before the Philadelphia Society for Promoting Agriculture: at their annual exhibition held at the Rising Sun village, October 17, 1850 (Germantown, Pennsylvania: Printed at the office of the Telegraph, 1850) [this address is reprinted in Proceedings of the annual exhibition of the Philadelphia Society for Promoting Agriculture: held at the Rising Sun Village, October 16–17, 1850 (Germantown, Pennsylvania: Printed at the Office of the Telegraph / Philadelphia Society for Promoting Agriculture, 1850)] A Report on the Cultivation of Native Grapes for Fruit and for Wine: Read to the Philadelphia Society for Promoting Agriculture, April 2, 1856 (Philadelphia: Inquirer Printing Office, 1856) Address Delivered Before the Chester County Agricultural Society, at Their Annual Exhibition Held at West-Chester, September 26, 1857 (Philadelphia: Merrihew & Thompson, printers, 1857) Address Delivered Before the Montgomery County Agricultural Society at Their Annual Exhibition Held at Springtown, October 7, 1859, By Sidney George Fisher, of Philadelphia. Published By Order of the Society (Philadelphia: James B. Chandler, Printer, 1859) An Address delivered before the Agricultural Society of New Castle County, Delaware, at their annual exhibition held at the Society's farm near Wilmington, October 17, 1860 (Philadelphia: C. Sherman & Son, printers, 1860)