"But, sir, the people themselves have it in their power effectually
to resist usurpation, without being driven to an appeal of arms.
An act of usurpation is not obligatory; it is not law; and any man
may be justified in his resistance. Let him be considered as a criminal
by the general government, yet only his fellow-citizens can convict him;
they are his jury, and if they pronounce him innocent, not all the powers
of Congress can hurt him; and innocent they certainly will pronounce him,
if the supposed law he resisted was an act of usurpation."
-- Theophilus Parsons, in the Massachusetts Convention
-- on the ratification of the U.S. Constitution
-- [Jonathan Elliot, ed., "The Debates of the Several State Conventions
-- on the Adoption of the Federal Constitution",
-- (New York, Burt Franklin: 1888), 2:94 ]
to resist usurpation, without being driven to an appeal of arms.
An act of usurpation is not obligatory; it is not law; and any man
may be justified in his resistance. Let him be considered as a criminal
by the general government, yet only his fellow-citizens can convict him;
they are his jury, and if they pronounce him innocent, not all the powers
of Congress can hurt him; and innocent they certainly will pronounce him,
if the supposed law he resisted was an act of usurpation."
-- Theophilus Parsons, in the Massachusetts Convention
-- on the ratification of the U.S. Constitution
-- [Jonathan Elliot, ed., "The Debates of the Several State Conventions
-- on the Adoption of the Federal Constitution",
-- (New York, Burt Franklin: 1888), 2:94 ]
Related:
- In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a
speedy and public trial
by an impartial jury of the state and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusatio... - MAD, adj. Affected with a high degree of intellectual independence
not conforming to standards of thought, speech and action derived by the conformants from study of themselve... - Just look at that face. The face of a thinker, a warrior, a man for all
seasons.
Yet, Ira Graves was not perfect. Perhaps his greatest flaw was that he was too selfless.... - Man's mind is his basic tool of survival. Life is given to him, survival is
not.
His body is given to him, its sustenance is not. His mind is given to him, its content is not.... - Epperson's law: When a man says it's a silly, childish game, it's probably something his wife can beat him at.
- When a man says it's a silly, childish game, it's probably
something his wife can beat him at.
-- Epperson's law... - The right of the citizens to keep and bear arms has justly been considered as
the palladium of the liberties of a republic
ince it offers a strong moral check against usurpation and arbitrary power of rule... - Bart: Mom, what if there's a really bad crummy guy who's going to jail
but I know he's innocent?
Marge: Well, Bart, your uncle Arthur used to have a saying...
