One delivered or taken hurriedly and without consideration.
1841. This extra session of Congress, called in time of peace to take snap judgments on the American people.—Mr. Benton of Missouri, U.S. Senate, June 14: Cong. Globe, p. 42, App.
1841. The American people … will never quietly submit to this snap judgment, which would rivet upon them and their children such an odious institution [as the Fiscal Bank].—Mr. Buchanan of Pa., the same, July 7: id., p. 162, App.
1841. To proceed under such circumstances is to take the people by surprise, and spring a snap judgment upon them.—Mr. Benton, the same, July 27: id., p. 199, App.
1845. It has been said that, in pressing this matter, we would take a “snap judgment,”—we would get the start of the American people.—Mr. Yancey of Alabama, House of Repr., Jan. 7: id., p. 88, App.
1850. [This] was a case in which one half of the Union had no opportunity of being heard; you took snap judgment on them.—Mr. Downs of Louisiana, Senate, Feb. 18: id., p. 167, App.
1850. We are not to be taken by surprise, and these important measures forced upon the country by a snap judgment.—Mr. Giddings of Ohio, House of Repr., Aug. 12: id., p. 1563.
1860. I had remained under the compression that outside of a kind of twopenny shystering smartness and snap-judgment genius, Dovey was, in a business way, rather a cross between a Dutch dumpling and a one-horse blower.—Knick. Mag., lvi. 458 (Nov.).
1861. It was only yesterday I endeavored to get a ‘snap-judgment’ opened which Bulldog had taken against us after promising one of our clerks verbally to give us another day to plead.—Id., lvii. 298 (March).
1861. I do not want to take a snap judgment on anybody, but I do not intend that merchants shall send orders out and have them filled before this [tariff] bill takes effect.—Mr. Charles Sumner of Mass., U.S. Senate, July 29: Cong. Globe, p. 319/1.
1888. A snap viva voce vote is taken.—St. Louis Globe-Democrat, Feb. 16 (Farmer).
