James Madison was a principal author of the United States Constitution. He was also a great proponent of property rights. Thus, it is particularly sad and ironic that property rights seem to have received short shrift for reasons of political expendiency. Indeed, this was a fear of Madison. I thought the Fourth of July was a good time to remind people of Madison’s wisdom on property rights and the role of government:
“Where an excess of power prevails, property of no sort is duly respected. No man is safe in his opinions, his person, his faculties, or his possessions.”
“The rights of persons, and the rights of property, are the objects, for the protection of which Government was instituted.”
“As a man is said to have a right to his property, he may be equally said to have a property in his rights.”
“In Republics, the great danger is, that the majority may not sufficiently respect the rights of the minority.”
A quote for all the Judicial Activists out their attempting to make a living Constitution—This is what the author of the Constitution thought about that:
“Do not separate text from historical background. If you do, you will have perverted and subverted the Constitution, which can only end in a distorted, bastardized form of illegitimate government.”
And as many of you set off on your summer vacations, consider this quote:
“Let me recommend the best medicine in the world: a long journey, at a mild season, through a pleasant country, in easy stages.”
Happy Fourth of July!!!
Filed under: Regulation Nightmares
