Tag Archives: Thomas Jefferson

First Principles: The Judiciary Branch Does Not Decide Constitutionality of Laws Solely Nor Fully Independent of the Executive and Legislative Branches

“The opinion which gives to the judges the right to decide what laws are constitutional and what not, not only for themselves, in their own sphere of action, but for the Legislature and Executive also in their spheres, would make … Continue reading

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First Principles: The Possibilities of Mischief In the Governance of Man Should Remain Bound By the Constitution

“In questions of power, then, let no more be heard of confidence in man, but bind him down from mischief by the chains of the Constitution.” – Thomas Jefferson (1798)    

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First Principles: Seek Always the Pursuit of Truth; One Lie Leads To Habitual Lies

“There is no vice so mean, so pitiful, so contemptible; and he who permits himself to tell a lie once, finds it much easier to do it a second and a third time, till at length it becomes habitual.” – … Continue reading

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First Principles: The God Who Gave Us Life Gave Us Liberty

“God who gave us life gave us Liberty. Can the liberties of a nation be secure when we have removed a conviction that these liberties are the gift of God? Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that … Continue reading

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First Principles: A General Education of the People Will End Tyranny and Oppression of Mind and Body

“Enlighten the people, generally, and tyranny and oppressions of body and mind will vanish like spirits at the dawn of day.” – Thomas Jefferson (1816)      

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First Principles: A Judiciary Should Be Independent of the Executive Alone, But, Not Independent of the Nation

“A judiciary independent of a king or executive alone, is a good thing; but independence of the will of the nation is a solecism, at least in a republican government.”  -Thomas Jefferson (1820)      

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First Principles: Honest Persons Feel No Pleasure Over Controlling Fellow Citizens

“An honest man can feel no pleasure in the exercise of power over his fellow citizens.” – Thomas Jefferson (1813)      

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First Principles: Laws Are Made For Men of Ordinary Understanding To Be Construed By Ordinary Rules of Common Sense

“Laws are made for men of ordinary understanding and should, therefore, be construed by the ordinary rules of common sense. Their meaning is not to be sought for in metaphysical subtleties which may make anything mean everything or nothing at … Continue reading

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First Principles: To Understand the Constitution and Law Generally Determine the Intent of the Lawmakers

“The true key for the construction of everything doubtful in a law is the intention of the law-makers.” – Thomas Jefferson (1808)    

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First Principles: It Is Our Government’s Sacred Duty To Render Equal and Impartial Justice To All Citizens

“The most sacred of the duties of a government [is] to do equal and impartial justice to all citizens.” – Thomas Jefferson (1816)      

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