Page 173 - Beers With Our Founding Fathers

A Patriot’s view of the history and direction of our Country

 “I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the

freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments
of those in power, than by violent and sudden usurpations.”

 “Wherever the real power in a Government lies, there is the
danger of oppression.”

 “The Religion then of every man must be left to the
conviction and conscience of every man; and it is the right of

every man to exercise it as these may dictate.”

 “The essence of Government is power; and power, lodged as
it must be in human hands, will ever be liable to abuse.”
 “Religion & Government will both exist in greater purity, the

less they are mixed together.”

 “An armed and trained militia is the firmest bulwark of
republics ... without standing armies their liberty can never

be in danger, nor with large ones safe.”
 “Besides the advantage of being armed, which the

Americans possess over the people of almost every other
nation, the existence of subordinate governments, to which

the people are attached and by which the militia officers are
appointed, forms a barrier against the enterprises of

ambition, more insurmountable than any which a simple
government of any form can admit of.”

 “If tyranny and oppression come to this land, it will be in the

guise of fighting a foreign enemy.”

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