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Thomas Jefferson
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Thomas Jefferson on Rightful Liberty
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Posted by: jeremy_reeder
on 2008-01-22 01:31:15 |
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Views: 117
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"Of liberty I would say that, in the whole plenitude of its extent, it is unobstructed action according to our will. But rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will within limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others. I do not add “within the limits of the law,” because law is often but the tyrant’s will, and always so when it violates the right of an individual."
Thomas Jefferson
(Letter to Isaac H. Tiffany, 4 April 1819)
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Posted by: jeremy_reeder
on 2008-01-21 21:41:52
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Thomas Jefferson co-founded the Democratic-Republican party in order to oppose the Federalist party. And I'm glad he did.
The Federalists advocated a tremendous increase in the power of the United States government by replacing the former constitution ("The Articles of Confederation") with a new one.
To limit the damage caused by the new-fangled Constitution, Jefferson and other anti-federalists promoted such ideas as having a Bill of Rights. Alexander Hamilton considered this unnecessary. He argued that a list of rights might even be considered to imply that any rights not listed do not exist.
In answer to this argument, Jefferson wrote "Half a loaf is better than no bread. If we cannot secure all our rights, let us secure what we can." ( Letter to James Madison, March 15, 1789. )
There are those who want to get their grubby little hands on the liberty of this nation, and we have Mr. Jefferson to thank for his efforts to protect them.
But is it enough? If interpretation of the Constitution and its amendments is left up to the courts, perhaps not. As good ol' Tommy put it, "Our judges are as honest as other men and not more so. They have with others the same passions for party, for power, and the privilege of their corps." (Letter to William C. Jarvis, 1820.) Yes, that pretty much means we're screwed.
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Posted by: jeremy_reeder
on 2008-01-21 23:10:20
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