The judiciary of the United States is the subtle corps of sappers and miners constantly working under ground to undermine the foundations of our confederated fabric. They are construing our constitution from a coordination of a general and special government to a general and supreme one alone. This will lay all things at their feet … We shall see if they are bold enough to take the daring stride their five lawyers have lately taken. If they do, then … I will say, that ‘against this every man should raise his voice,’ and more, should uplift his arm.
Tag: Thomas Jefferson
(1743-1826), U.S. Founding Father, drafted the Declaration of Independence, 3rd U.S. President.
Trial by jury
I consider trial by jury as the only anchor yet devised by man, by which a government can be held to the principles of its constitution.
Freedom allows greatness
It is the great parent of science & of virtue: and that a nation will be great in both, always in proportion as it is free.
A Bill of Rights
A bill of rights is what the people are entitled to against every government on earth, general or particular, and what no just government should refuse.
Self government
I have no fear that the result of our experiment will be that men may be trusted to govern themselves without a master.
Natural progression
The natural progress of things is for liberty to yield and government to gain ground.
Descent into tyranny
Experience hath shewn, that even under the best forms [of government] those entrusted with power have, in time, and by slow operations, perverted it into tyranny.
One sin of socialism
To compel a man to furnish contributions of money for the propagation of opinions which he disbelieves and abhors, is sinful and tyrannical.
Neither restraint nor aid
The policy of American government is to leave its citizens free, neither restraining them nor aiding them in their pursuits.
Rightful liberty
Rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will within limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others. I do not add ‘within the limits of the law,’ because law is often but the tyrant’s will, and always so when it violates the rights of the individual.