Category Archives: First Principles

First Principles: A Juror Has A Duty to Follow the Juror’s Conscience

Posted on July 3, 2017 by alohapromisesforever

“It is not only [the juror’s] right, but his duty…to find the verdict according to his own best understanding, judgment, and conscience, though in direct opposition to the direction of the court.” — John Adams, 1771 (2nd US President)

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Bill of Rights, Consience, Duty, First Principles, John Adams, Judgment, Juror, Understanding | Leave a comment

First Principles: Liberty Is Rightfully Constrained By the Rights of Others

Posted on July 2, 2017 by alohapromisesforever

“… (R)ightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our own 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, … Continue reading →

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Constrained, First Principles, Isaac H Tiffany, Law, Liberty, Rights, Thomas Jefferson, Tyranny, Unobstructed, Violation | Leave a comment

Thought For the Day: Principles Remain In Tact As America Changes

Posted on July 1, 2017 by alohapromisesforever

“Two things in America are astonishing: the changeableness of most human behavior and the strange stability of certain principles. Men are constantly on the move, but the spirit of humanity seems almost unmoved.” – Alexis de Tocqueville A complete copy … Continue reading →

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Alexis de Tocqueville, America, Change, Democracy In America, First Principles, Spirit, Stability | Leave a comment

First Principles: The Federal Government Must Not Interfere With Religion

Posted on July 1, 2017 by alohapromisesforever

“I consider the government of the United States as interdicted by the Constitution from intermeddling with religious institutions, their doctrines, discipline, or exercises. This results not only from the provision that no law shall be made respecting the establishment or … Continue reading →

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Bill of Rights, Constitution, Danbury Convention, First Amendment, First Principles, Free Exercise, Intermeddling, Prohibited, Thomas Jefferson, Western Civilization | 1 Comment

First Principles: Constitutional Interpretation Is Dependent On Original Intent

Posted on June 30, 2017 by alohapromisesforever

“On every question of construction [of the Constitution], let us carry ourselves back to the time when the Constitution was adopted, recollect the spirit manifested in the debates, and instead of trying what meaning may be squeezed out of the … Continue reading →

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Constitutional Convention, Debates, Interpretation, Original Intent, Sophistry, Thomas Jefferson, William Johnson | Leave a comment

First Principles: A Vote For Principle Is Never Lost

Posted on June 29, 2017 by alohapromisesforever

“Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost.” – John Quincy Adams

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Cherish, First Principles, John Quincy Adams, Liberty, Principle, Vote | Leave a comment

First Principles: Perseverance Is Essential To Victory

Posted on June 28, 2017 by alohapromisesforever

“I have not yet begun to fight.” – John Paul Jones The story behind this quote as a retort in a battle that seemed all but lost and yet was turned around into a victory is told here: http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/johnpauljones.htm As … Continue reading →

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Battle, Determination, Essential, Fight, First Principles, John Paul Jones, Perserverance, Victory | Leave a comment

First Principles: Public Virtue Does Not Exist Without Private Virtue

Posted on June 27, 2017 by alohapromisesforever

“Public virtue cannot exist in a nation without private, and public virtue is the only foundation of republics. There must be a positive passion for the public good, the public interest, honour, power and glory, established in the minds of … Continue reading →

Posted in First Principles | Tagged First Principles, Foundation, Honor, John Adams, Liberty, Mercy Otis Warren, Private Virtue, Public Virtue, Respect | Leave a comment

First Principles: Democracy Leads To Tyranny

Posted on June 26, 2017 by alohapromisesforever

“It has been observed that a pure democracy if it were practicable would be the most perfect government. Experience has proved that no position is more false than this. The ancient democracies in which the people themselves deliberated never possessed … Continue reading →

Posted in First Principles, Uncategorized | Tagged Alexander Hamilton, Aritcle IV Section 4, Constitution, Democracy, First Principles, Republic, The Federalist Papers, Tyranny | Leave a comment

First Principles: Bad Men Cannot Be Good Citizens

Posted on June 25, 2017 by alohapromisesforever

“Bad men cannot make good citizens. A vitiated state of morals, a corrupted public conscience are incompatible with freedom.” – Patrick Henry Those who say that what a person does in private does not concern the public square might want … Continue reading →

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Citizenship, Corruption, First Principles, Founding Fathers, Freedom, Moral, Patrick Henry | Leave a comment