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Category Archives: First Principles
First Principles: The States Retain All Rights Not Exclusively Delegated to the United States
“But as the plan of the convention aims only at a partial union or consolidation, the State governments would clearly retain all the rights of sovereignty which they before had, and which were not, by that act, EXCLUSIVELY delegated to … Continue reading
First Principles: Justice Is the End of Government and Civil Society
“Justice is the end of government. It is the end of civil society. It ever has been and ever will be pursued until it be obtained, or until liberty be lost in the pursuit.” – James Madison, Federalist No. 51, … Continue reading
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Tagged Liberty, James Madison, Justice, Government, Civil Society, Goal, End, Lost, Attain
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First Principles: The Safe Depository of Constitutional Powers Are the People
“I know no safe depository of the ultimate powers of the society but the people themselves; and if we think them not enlightened enough to exercise their control with a wholesome discretion, the remedy is not to take it from … Continue reading
First Principles: Only A Virtuous People Are Capable of Freedom
“Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom.” – Benjamin Franklin, Letter to the Abbes Chalut and Arnoux, 1787
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Tagged Benjamin Franklin, First Principles, Freedom, Only, People, Thirteen Virtues, Virtuous
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First Principles: Truth Can Stand For Itself
“It is error alone which needs the support of government. Truth can stand by itself. Subject opinion to coercion: whom will you make your inquisitors?” – Thomas Jefferson (1781)
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Tagged Error, First Principles, Government Support, Inquistors, Opinion, Self Evidence, Thomas Jefferson, Truth
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First Principles: The Fairest Fruit of Liberty Are the Security of the Rule of Law and Our Rights
What is the fairest fruit of the English Tree of Liberty? The security of our rights and of the law, and that no man shall be brought to trial where there is a prejudice against him. – Thomas Erskine (1750-1823) … Continue reading
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Tagged First Principles, Fruit, Law, Liberty, Rights, Security, Thomas Erskine, Tree
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First Principles: The Republican Form of Government Is the Only Form of Government Not At War With the Rights of Man
“The republican is the only form of government which is not eternally at open or secret war with the rights of mankind.” – Thomas Jefferson, Letter to William Hunter, 1790
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Tagged First Principles, Government, Open, Republican, Rights of Mankind, Secret, Thomas Jefferson, War
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First Principles: The Harder the Conflict With Tyranny, The More Glorious Is the Triumph
“Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.” — Thomas Paine, American Crisis, No. 1, 1776
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Tagged American Crisis, Conflict, Conquered, Consolation, First Principles, Glory, Hell, Thomas Paine, Triumph, Tyranny
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First Principles: Never Abandon Reason
“Man, once surrendering his reason, has no remaining guard against absurdities the most monstrous, and like a ship without rudder, is the spot of every wind. With such persons, gullibility, which they call faith, takes the helm from the hand … Continue reading
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Tagged Absurdiities, First Principles, Guard, Guillibility, Mankind, Mind, Reason, Rudder, Surrender, Thomas Jefferson
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First Principles: The Constitution Is the Standard We Must Cling To and Measure Our Opposition By
“The present Constitution is the standard to which we are to cling. Under its banners, bona fide must we combat our political foes.” – Alexander Hamilton (1802)
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Tagged Alexander Hamilton, Bona Fide, Cling, Constitution, First Principles, Poltical Foes, Standard, Uphold
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