But, sir, the people themselves have it in their power effectually to resist usurpation,

"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 ]