Category Archives: First Principles

First Principles: Science Opens Eyes To Truth

“All eyes are opened, or opening, to the rights of man. The general spread of the light of science has already laid open to every view the palpable truth, that the mass of mankind has not been born with saddles … Continue reading →

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First Principles: The Precious Blessings of America Need To Be Appreciated

“How little do my countrymen know what precious blessings they are in possession of, and which no other people on earth enjoy!”  – Thomas Jefferson, in a letter to James Monroe, on June 17, 1785 It is too easy to … Continue reading →

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First Principles: It Is God, Not Man’s Words That Protect Us From Corruption

“The blessed Religion revealed in the word of God will remain an eternal and awful monument to prove that the best Institution may be abused by human depravity; and that they may even, in some instances be made subservient to … Continue reading →

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First Principles: Unlimited Taxation Is the Power to Destroy

“An unlimited power to tax involves, necessarily, a power to destroy; because there is a limit beyond which no institution and no property can bear taxation.” —John Marshall (1819) In an interesting aside the Plaintiff in this matter was represented … Continue reading →

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First Principles: Dishonesty Poisons the Heart, Soul and Mind

“This falsehood of the tongue leads to that of the heart, and in time depraves all its good disposition.” —Thomas Jefferson (1785) Fairly self explanatory on a personal level, isn’t it?  And when the media has decided to become propaganda … Continue reading →

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First Principles: States Have Rights Within Their Own Orbits

“Let our government be like that of the solar system. Let the general government be like the sun and the states the planets, repelled yet attracted, and the whole moving regularly and harmoniously in several orbits.” — John Dickinson (Delaware … Continue reading →

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First Principles: The Revolution Was Fought For Freedom and Honest Persons

“We fight not to enslave, but to set a country free, and to make room upon the earth for honest men to live in.” —Thomas Paine (1777), in The American Crisis No. 4 This essay may be read in its entirety … Continue reading →

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First Principles: The Art of Government Is In Honestly Doing One’s Duty

“The whole art of government consists in the art of being honest. Only aim to do your duty, and mankind will give you credit where you fail.” —Thomas Jefferson (1774), in the Rights of British America

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First Principles: Term Limits Compels Consideration of the Governed

“Nothing so strongly impels a man to regard the interest of his constituents, as the certainty of returning to the general mass of the people, from whence he was taken, where he must participate in their burdens.  – George Mason, Speech … Continue reading →

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First Principles: Be Just Friends and Brave Enemies

“I am ever unwilling that [peace] should be disturbed as long as the rights and interests of the nations can be preserved. But whensoever hostile aggressions require a resort to war, we must meet our duty and convince the world … Continue reading →

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