Tag Archives: James Otis

First Principles: One of the Most Essential Branches of English Liberty Is the Freedom of One’s House. A Man’s House Is His Castle

“One of the most essential branches of English liberty is the freedom of one’s house. A man’s house is his castle.” – James Otis, on the Writs of Assistance, 1761

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First Principles: This Constitution Is the Most Free One, and By Far the Best, Now Existing On the Earth

“…that the King with and by the authority of parliament, is able to make laws and statutes of sufficient force and validity to limit and bind the crown, and the descent, limitation, inheritance and government thereof” is founded on the principles of liberty and … Continue reading

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First Principles: Government Is Founded Not On Force…(I)t Springs From the Necessities of Our Nature, and Has An Everlasting Foundation In the Unchangeable Will of God

“Government is founded not on force, as was the theory of Hobbes; nor on compact, as was the theory of Locke and of the revolution of 1688; nor on property, as was the assertion of Harrington. It springs from the … Continue reading

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First Principles: Government Is Founded On the Necessities of Our Nature and the Unchangeable Will of God

“Government is founded not on force, as was the theory of Hobbes; nor on compact, as was the theory of Locke and of the revolution of 1688; nor on property, as was the assertion of Harrington. It springs from the … Continue reading

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First Principles: A Person’s Home Is Their Castle

“One of the most essential branches of English liberty is the freedom of one’s house. A man’s house is his castle.”–  James Otis, On the Writs of Assistance (1761)

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