Category Archives: First Principles

First Principles: The Advantage of Being Armed Is What Gives the People Our Ultimate Authority

Posted on May 27, 2018 by alohapromisesforever

“The ultimate authority … resides in the people alone. … [T]he advantage of being armed, which the Americans possess over the people of almost every other nation … forms a barrier against the enterprises of ambition, more insurmountable than any…” … Continue reading →

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Ambition, Barrier, Criminality, First Prinicples, James Madison, Right to Bear Arms, Second Amendment, The People, Thomas Jefferson, Tyranny, Ultimate Authority | Leave a comment

First Principles: Peace Is Obtained By Being Ready For War

Posted on May 26, 2018 by alohapromisesforever

“If we desire to secure peace, one of the most powerful instruments of our rising prosperity, it must be known that we are at all times ready for war.” – George Washington (1793)

Posted in First Principles | Tagged First Principles, George Washington, Peace, Prosperity, Readiness, Security, War | Leave a comment

First Principles: It Is the Nature of the Federal Government’s Constraints and Limitations That Makes Our Government Just

Posted on May 25, 2018 by alohapromisesforever

“Stripped of all its covering, the naked question is, whether ours is a federal or consolidated government; a constitutional or absolute one; a government resting solidly on the basis of the sovereignty of the States, or on the unrestrained will … Continue reading →

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Absolute, Consolidated, Constitutional, Federal, First Principles, John C Calhoun, Limited, Naked Question, State Sovereignity, Unlimited, Unrestrained Majority | Leave a comment

First Principles: The States Retain All Rights Not Exclusively Delegated to the United States

Posted on May 24, 2018 by alohapromisesforever

“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 →

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Alexander Hamilton, Convention, Delegated, Federal, Federalist Papers, First Principles, Partial Union, Sate Government, Sovereignity, United States | Leave a comment

First Principles: Justice Is the End of Government and Civil Society

Posted on May 23, 2018 by alohapromisesforever

“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 →

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Attain, Civil Society, End, Goal, Government, James Madison, Justice, Liberty, Lost | Leave a comment

First Principles: The Safe Depository of Constitutional Powers Are the People

Posted on May 22, 2018 by alohapromisesforever

“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 →

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Abuses, Constitutional Powers, Corrective, Discretion, Education, First Principles, Remedy, Safe Depository, The People, Thomas Jefferson, Ultimate Powers | Leave a comment

First Principles: Only A Virtuous People Are Capable of Freedom

Posted on May 21, 2018 by alohapromisesforever

“Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom.” – Benjamin Franklin, Letter to the Abbes Chalut and Arnoux, 1787

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Benjamin Franklin, First Principles, Freedom, Only, People, Thirteen Virtues, Virtuous | Leave a comment

First Principles: Truth Can Stand For Itself

Posted on May 20, 2018 by alohapromisesforever

“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)

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Error, First Principles, Government Support, Inquistors, Opinion, Self Evidence, Thomas Jefferson, Truth | Leave a comment

First Principles: The Fairest Fruit of Liberty Are the Security of the Rule of Law and Our Rights

Posted on May 19, 2018 by alohapromisesforever

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 →

Posted in First Principles | Tagged First Principles, Fruit, Law, Liberty, Rights, Security, Thomas Erskine, Tree | Leave a comment

First Principles: The Republican Form of Government Is the Only Form of Government Not At War With the Rights of Man

Posted on May 18, 2018 by alohapromisesforever

“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

Posted in First Principles | Tagged First Principles, Government, Open, Republican, Rights of Mankind, Secret, Thomas Jefferson, War | Leave a comment