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Category Archives: First Principles
First Principles: Possession and Use of Arms
“[T]o preserve liberty, it is essential that the whole body of the people always possess arms, and be taught alike, especially when young, how to use them.” – Federal Farmer (1787 Richard Henry Lee was a leader during the Revolutionary … Continue reading
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Tagged Anti-Federalist Papers, Arms, Bill of Rights, Liberty, Richard Henry Lee, The People
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First Principles: What Makes for Great Speech
“I should consider the speeches of Livy, Sallust, and Tacitus, as preeminent specimens of logic, taste and that sententious brevity which, using not a word to spare, leaves not a moment for inattention to the hearer. Amplification is the vice … Continue reading
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Tagged Amplification, Livy, Oratory, Sallust, Speech, Tacitus, Thomas Jefferson
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First Principles: Character Builds A Nation
“If men of wisdom and knowledge, of moderation and temperance, of patience, fortitude and perseverance, of sobriety and true republican simplicity of manners, of zeal for the honour of the Supreme Being and the welfare of the commonwealth; if men … Continue reading
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Tagged Character, Commonwealth, Foundation, Knowledge, Moderation, Samuel Adams, Supreme Being, Virtue, Wisdom
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First Principles: Constitutional Interpretation
“(T)he true key for the construction of everything doubtful in a law is the intention of the law-makers. This is most safely gathered from the words, but may be sought also in the extraneous circumstances provided they do not contradict … Continue reading
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Tagged Constitutional Interpretation, Construction, Thomas Jefferon
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First Principles: Legal Consequences
“Government implies the power of making laws. It is essential to the idea of a law, that it be attended with a sanction; or, in other words, a penalty or punishment for disobedience.” – Alexander Hamilton (1787) To understand more … Continue reading
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Tagged Alexander Hamilton, Consequences, Law, Republic, The Federalist Papers
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First Principles – Speak After Thinking
“Speak seldom, but to important subjects, except such as particularly relate to your constituents, and, in the former case, make yourself perfectly master of the subject.” – George Washington (1787) In best, or at least better, understanding the founding principles … Continue reading
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Tagged Constitution, First Principles, George Washington, History, Penrod Washington, Republic, We The People
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First Principles: Ignorance of Natural Rights
“The fundamental source of all your errors, sophisms and false reasonings is a total ignorance of the natural rights of mankind. Were you once to become acquainted with these, you could never entertain a thought, that all men are not, … Continue reading
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Tagged Alexander Hamilton, First Principles, Natural Rights, Parity of Privileges
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First Principles: The Importance of the Right to Bear Arms
“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
First Principles – On Pride
“In reality there is perhaps no one of our natural Passions so hard to subdue as Pride. Disguise it, struggle with it, beat it down, stifle it, mortify it as much as one pleases, it is still alive, and will … Continue reading
First Principles: Excessive Taxation
“Excessive taxation … will carry reason and reflection to every man’s door, and particularly in the hour of election.” – Thomas Jefferson (1798)
ALOHA PROMISES FOREVER 