Posts Tagged ‘political philosophy’
Samuel Adams — Candidus, 14 October 1776 — Democratic Thinker
Background of the American Revolution Prior to the Revolution, Samuel Adams sends another of his firey letters—under the psuedonym, Candidus—to the Boston Gazette, advancing his belief in Liberty. The truth is, All might be free if they valued freedom, and defended it as they ought. Article Signed [...]
Fisher Ames: Equality Number 6 — Democratic Thinker
American Debate In a series of papers published in 1801, Fisher Ames unleashes one of the Federalist’s most scathing attacks on the Anti-Federalist’s unbridled democratic principles. Ames does so by drawing their principles to their logical conclusions—illustrating his conclusions with the unprincipled actions of the European [...]
Fisher Ames: Equality Number 5 — Democratic Thinker
American Debate In a series of papers published in 1801, Fisher Ames unleashes one of the Federalist’s most scathing attacks on the Anti-Federalist’s unbridled democratic principles. Ames does so by drawing their principles to their logical conclusions—illustrating his conclusions with the unprincipled actions of the European [...]
Fisher Ames: Equality Number 4 — Democratic Thinker
American Debate In a series of papers published in 1801, Fisher Ames unleashes one of the Federalist’s most scathing attacks on the Anti-Federalist’s unbridled democratic principles. Ames does so by drawing their principles to their logical conclusions—illustrating his conclusions with the unprincipled actions of the European [...]
Fisher Ames: Equality Number 2 — Democratic Thinker
American Debate In a series of papers published in 1801, Fisher Ames unleashes one of the Federalist’s most scathing attacks on the Anti-Federalist’s unbridled democratic principles. Ames does so by drawing their principles to their logical conclusions—illustrating his conclusions with the unprincipled actions of the European [...]
Fisher Ames: Equality Number 1 — Democratic Thinker
American Debate In a series of papers published in 1801, Fisher Ames unleashes one of the Federalist’s most scathing attacks on the Anti-Federalist’s unbridled democratic principles. Ames does so by drawing their principles to their logical conclusions—illustrating his conclusions with the unprincipled actions of the European [...]
The Ploy of Libertine Liberty — Edmund Burke
Liberty Letters Quote of the Day, Edmund Burke So heavy is the aristocratic yoke that the nobles have been obliged to enervate the spirit of their subjects by every sort of debauchery; they have denied them the liberty of reason, and they have made them amends by what a base soul will think a more valuable liberty, by not only allowing, but [...]
John Adams on Canon and Feudal Law — Democratic Thinker
John Adams writes a four-part essay first appearing in the Boston Gazette, August 1765, in which he illustrates the conspiracy of the organized church and government to oppress the citizens. At first untitled, the series appeared in England in a small pamphlet entitled A Dissertation On The Canon And Feudal Law. I say rights, for such they [...]
From Such Liberty, O Lord Deliver Us! — Noah Webster
Liberty Letters Quote of the Day, Noah Webster But I cannot quit this subject without attempting to correct some of the erroneous opinions respecting freedom and tyranny, and the principles by which they are supported. Many people seem to entertain an idea, that liberty consists in a power to act without any control. This is more liberty than [...]
Madison’s Notes — The Federal Convention of 1787 — July 16
Liberty Letters, 16 July 1787, James Madison (Editor's Summary: Agreeing to the whole report (thus far), while the equality of votes in the Senate issue heats up, large and small states asked to meet separately early the next morning to attempt to come up with possible solutions or compromises to end this impasse. Besides that big issue, some [...]
Madison’s Notes — Federal Convention of 1787 — July 14
Liberty Letters, 14 July 1787, James Madison (Editor's Summary: Discussed: how to admit Western State (and on what terms), the origination of money bills, and the equality of votes in the Senate as a check in favor of state rights and also in favor of the smaller states against the larger. The debate focused mostly on this Senate issue with [...]
Men With the Mentality of Gangsters — Lord Acton
Liberty Letters Quote of the Day, Lord Acton Where you have the concentration of power in a few hands, all too frequently men with the mentality of gangsters get control. Source: Lord Acton as quoted in "Bringing America Home: How America Lost Her Way and How We Can Find Our Way Back" by Tom Pauken, p. 179. Liberty Letters are compiled [...]
Madison’s Notes — Federal Convention of 1787 — July 13
Liberty Letters, 13 July 1787, James Madison (Editor's summary: Debate renewed regarding the proposed equality of states within the Senate (the second branch). Discussion continued as to whether numbers or wealth are best for determining representation and taxation. Spelling has been updated and almost all shorthand removed except where Madison [...]
The Only Firm Basis of Liberty — Thomas Jefferson
Liberty Letters Quote of the Day, Thomas Jefferson Can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in their hearts that these liberties are of the gift of God, that they are not to be violated but with his wrath. Source: Jefferson, Thomas. Works Volume 8:404.
Man Is Naturally Free — Algernon Sidney
Liberty Letters, Quote of the Day, Algernon Sidney IF any man ask how nations come to have the power of doing these things, I answer, that liberty being only an exemption from the dominion of another, the question ought not to be, how a nation can come to be free, but how a man comes to have a dominion over it; for till the right of [...]
Federal Powers Few and Defined — James Madison
Liberty Letters Quote of the Day, James Madison The powers delegated by the proposed Constitution to the Federal Government, are few and defined. Those which are to remain in the State Governments are numerous and indefinite. The former will be exercised principally on external objects, as war, peace, negotiation, and foreign commerce; with [...]
Madison’s Notes — Federal Convention of 1787 — July 12
Liberty Alerts, 12 July 1787, James Madison (Editor's Summary: Gouvernuer Morris moved to add to the clause empowering the Legislature to vary the Representation according to the principles of wealth and number of inhabitants a "proviso that taxation shall be in proportion to Representation." General Pinckney agreed, Mason, Butler, Wilson [...]
The Essential Causes of Rome’s Decline — Will Durant
Liberty Letters Quote of the Day, Will Durant A great civilization is not conquered from without until it has destroyed itself within. The essential causes of Rome's decline lay in her people, her morals, her class struggle, her failing trade, her bureaucratic despotism, her stifling taxes, her consuming wars. Will Durant, "Caesar and [...]
Madison’s Notes — The Federal Convention of 1787 — July 11
Liberty Letters, 11 July1787, James Madison (Editor's Note: Discussion regards periodic census resumed, the purpose, said Randolph, "redressing inequality in the Representation. Sherman was against to numerous a House. It would "shackle the legislature. Better to elect a smaller group of "good and wise men, and then confide in them." Mason [...]
Madison’s Notes — Federal Convention of 1787 — July 10
Liberty Letters, 10 July 1787, James Madison Editor's Intro: Debate over how many members will be in the first House of Representatives. More discussion on apportionment, and the need for an initial and periodic census. I've removed some of the shorthand, and updated the spelling. Steve Farrell Mr. KING reported from the Come. yesterday [...]
To Speak and Write What We Think — Thomas Jefferson
Liberty Letters Quote of the Day, Thomas Jefferson During the contest of opinion through which we have passed the animation of discussions and of exertions has sometimes worn an aspect which might impose on strangers unused to think freely and to speak and to write what they think; but this being now decided by the voice of the nation, [...]
Can Inward Slaves Make Outward Free? — John Milton
Liberty Letters Quote of the Day, John Milton What wise and valiant man would seek to free These , thus degenerate, by themselves enslaved, Or could of inward slaves make outward free? Source: John Milton, "Paradise Regained," 4th Book. Liberty Letters are compiled and edited (with occasional commentary) by The Moral Liberal, Editor In [...]
Madison’s Notes — The Federal Convention of 1787 — July 7
Liberty Letters, 7 July 1787, James Madison 1 "Shall the clause allowing each State one vote in the 2d. branch, stand as part of the Report"? being taken up — Mr. GERRY. This is the critical question. He had rather agree to it than have no accomodation. A Governt. short of a proper national plan, if generally acceptable, would be [...]
Dr. Strangehold: How the Republicans Stopped Worrying and Learned to Love the “Third Way” — Diane Alden
By Diane Alden The NewsMax Years The rallying cry for the journey down the "Third Way" ought to be: "Cry havoc! Slip loose the dogs of the trite bromide!" (Apologies to Shakespeare.) Gypsy Rose Lee might have described the "Third Way" as the intelligentsia and the political class gyrating, bumping and grinding to: "You Gotta Have a [...]
Eminent Domain and the Rights of Property — Dennis Behreandt
By Dennis Behreandt In China, one man has had enough. Yang Youde, who lives near the city of Wuhan, has had to begin defending his property rights with homemade artillery. He's not fighting off who you might think. There are no roving gangs of thugs, no sneaky, shifty criminals eager to invade his home. No, privatized criminals like these [...]
Madison’s Notes — The Federal Convention of 1787 — July 6
Liberty Letters, 6 July 1787, James Madison Mr. GOVr. MORRIS moved to commit so much of the Report as relates to "I member for every 40,000 inhabitants" His view was that they might absolutely fix the number for each State in the first instance; leaving the Legislature at liberty to provide for changes in the relative importance of the States, [...]
Madison’s Notes — Federal Convention of 1787 — July 5
Liberty Letters, 5 July 1787, James Madison Mr. GERRY delivered in from the Committee appointed on Monday last the following Report. "The Committee to whom was referred the 8th. Resol. of the Report from the Committee of the whole House, and so much of the 7th. as has not been decided on, submit the following Report: That the subsequent [...]
Madison’s Notes — Federal Convention of 1787 — July 2
Liberty Letters, 2 July 1787, James Madison On the question for allowing each State one vote in the second branch as moved by Mr. Elseworth, 1 Massts. no. Cont. ay. N. Y. ay. N. J. ay. Pa. no. Del. ay. Md. ay. Mr. Jenifer being not present Mr. Martin alone voted Va no. N. C. no. S. C. no. Geo. divd. Mr. Houston no. Mr. Baldwin ay. Mr. [...]
Madison’s Notes — The Federal Convention of 1787 — June 30
Liberty Letters, 30 June 1787, James Madison Mr. BREARLY moved that the President. write to the Executive of New Hampshire, informing it that the business depending before the Convention was of such a nature as to require the immediate attendance of the deputies of that State. In support of his motion he observed that the difficulties of the [...]
Peace, Easy Taxes, Justice — Adam Smith
Liberty Letters Quote of the Day, Adam Smith Little else is required to carry a state to the highest degree of affluence from the lowest barbarism but peace, easy taxes, and a tolerable administration of justice; all the rest being brought about by the natural course of things. All governments which thwart the natural course are unnatural, and [...]
