“A national government is a government of the people of a single state or nation, united as a community by what is termed the 'social compact,’ and possessing complete and perfect supremacy over persons and things, so far as they can be made the lawful objects of civil government. A federal government is distinguished from a national government by its being the government of a community of independent and sovereign states, united by compact.” ~ Black's Law Dictionary Piqua Branch Bank v. Knoup, 6 Ohio St. 393. [Black's Law Dictionary, Revised Fourth Edition, 1968, p. 1176]
[John Adams, Letter to Jonathan Jackson, October 1780, referring to the Constitutional Convention which introduced the Massachusetts Constitution of 1780](“There is nothing I dread So much, as a Division of the Republick into two great Parties, each arranged under its Leader, and concerting Measures in opposition to each other. This, in my humble Apprehension is to be dreaded as the greatest political Evil, under our Constitution. ” ~ John Adams (1735-1826) Founding Father, 2nd US President John Adams, Letter to Jonathan Jackson, October 1780, referring to the Constitutional Convention which introduced the Massachusetts Constitution of 1780)
They define a republic to be a government of laws, and not of men. ~ John Adams
“The liberties of our country, the freedom of our civil Constitution, are worth defending at all hazards; and it is our duty to defend them against all attacks. We have received them as a fair inheritance from our worthy ancestors: they purchased them for us with toil and danger and expense of treasure and blood, and transmitted them to us with care and diligence. It will bring an everlasting mark of infamy on the present generation, enlightened as it is, if we should suffer them to be wrested from us by violence without a struggle, or to be cheated out of them by the artifices of false and designing men.” ~ Samuel Adams (1722-1803), was known as the "Father of the American Revolution."
“If every person has the right to defend -- even by force -- his person, his liberty, and his property, then it follows that a group of men have the right to organize and support a common force to protect these rights constantly. Thus the principle of collective right -- its reason for existing, its lawfulness -- is based on individual right. And the common force that protects this collective right cannot logically have any other purpose or any other mission than that for which it acts as a substitute. Thus, since an individual cannot lawfully use force against the person, liberty, or property of another individual, then the common force -- for the same reason -- cannot lawfully be used to destroy the person, liberty, or property of individuals or groups.” ~ Frederic Bastiat (1801-1850) [Claude Frederic Bastiat] French economist, statesman, and author. He did most of his writing during the years just before -- and immediately following -- the French Revolution of February 1848 "The Law" by Frederic Bastiat (1848)
“Sometimes the law defends plunder and participates in it. Thus the beneficiaries are spared the shame and danger that their acts would otherwise involve... But how is this legal plunder to be identified? Quite simply. See if the law takes from some persons what belongs to them and gives it to the other persons to whom it doesn't belong. See if the law benefits one citizen at the expense of another by doing what the citizen himself cannot do without committing a crime. Then abolish that law without delay ... No legal plunder; this is the principle of justice, peace, order, stability, harmony and logic.” ~ Frederic Bastiat (1801-1850) [Claude Frederic Bastiat] French economist, statesman, and author. He did most of his writing during the years just before -- and immediately following -- the French Revolution of February 1848 "The Law" by Frederic Bastiat, 1850
“Government should allow persons to engage in whatever conduct they want to, no matter how deviant or abnormal it may be, so long as (a) they know what they are doing, (b) they consent to it, and (c) no one -- at least no one other than the participants -- is harmed by it.” ~ Hugo Adam Bedau (1926-2012) Professor of Philosophy, Tufts University (Emeritus)
“The first ten amendments were proposed and adopted largely because of fear that Government might unduly interfere with prized individual liberties. The people wanted and demanded a Bill of Rights written into their Constitution. The amendments embodying the Bill of Rights were intended to curb all branches of the Federal Government in the fields touched by the amendments—Legislative, Executive, and Judicial.” ~ Justice Hugo L. Black (1886-1971) US Supreme Court Justice Adamson v. California, 332 U.S. 46, 71 (Dissent) (1947)
Famous Ramsey Clark Quote “A right is not what someone gives you; it's what no one can take from you.” ~ Ramsey Clark (1927-) US Attorney General (1967-69) New York Times, 2 October 1977
The Constitution is not neutral. It was designed to take the government off the backs of people. ~ Justice William O. Douglas
The right to be let alone is indeed the beginning of all freedom. ~ Justice William O. Douglas
If it be asked, What is the most sacred duty and the greatest source of our security in a Republic? The answer would be, An inviolable respect for the Constitution and Laws. ~ Alexander Hamilton
[John Adams, Letter to Jonathan Jackson, October 1780, referring to the Constitutional Convention which introduced the Massachusetts Constitution of 1780](“There is nothing I dread So much, as a Division of the Republick into two great Parties, each arranged under its Leader, and concerting Measures in opposition to each other. This, in my humble Apprehension is to be dreaded as the greatest political Evil, under our Constitution. ” ~ John Adams (1735-1826) Founding Father, 2nd US President John Adams, Letter to Jonathan Jackson, October 1780, referring to the Constitutional Convention which introduced the Massachusetts Constitution of 1780)