I place economy among the first and most important virtues and public debt as the greatest dangers to be feared … We must not let our rulers load us with perpetual debt. We must make our choice between economy and liberty or profusion and servitude … The same prudence which in private life would forbid our paying money for unexplained projects, forbids it in the disposition of public money. We are endeavoring to reduce the government to the practice of rigid economy to avoid burdening the people.
Tag: Thomas Jefferson
(1743-1826), U.S. Founding Father, drafted the Declaration of Independence, 3rd U.S. President.
The Bill of Rights
I will now tell you what I do not like. First, the omission of a bill of rights, providing clearly, and without the aid of sophism, for freedom of religion, freedom of the press, protection against standing armies, restriction of monopolies, the eternal and unremitting force of the habeas corpus laws, and trials by jury in all matters of fact triable by the laws of the land, and not by the laws of nations. … Let me add that 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, or rest on inference.
Socialism as slavery
No man will labor for himself who can make another labor for him.
The judiciary as saboteurs
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.
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.