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That all power of suspending laws, or the execution of laws, by any authority, without consent of the representatives of the people, is injurious to their rights, and ought not to be exercised.

George Mason

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George Mason
Age: 66 †
Born: 1725
Born: December 11
Died: 1792
Died: October 7
Lawyer
Politician
Slaveholder
Statesman
Fairfax
Virginia
George Mason IV
Laws
Authority
Ought
Suspending
Rights
Injurious
Law
Exercised
Power
Consent
Without
Representatives
People
Execution

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If I can only live to see the American union firmly fixed, and free governments well established in our western world, and can leave to my children but a crust of bread and liberty, I shall die satisfied.
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I ask, sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people except for a few public officials.
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A few years' experience will convince us that those things which at the time they happened we regarded as our greatest misfortunes have proved our greatest blessings.
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We came equals into this world, and equals shall we go out of it.
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I ask you sir, who are the militia? They consist now of the whole people.
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No point is of more importance than that the right of impeachment should be continued. Shall any man be above Justice?
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The poor despise labor when performed by slaves.
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The epithets of parent and child have been long applied to Great Britain and her colonies, [but] we rarely see anything from your side of the water except the authoritative style of a master to a school-boy.
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The question then will be, whether a consolidated government can preserve the freedom and secure the rights of the people.
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We are now to rank among the nations of the world but whether our Independence shall prove a blessing or a curse must depend upon our own wisdom or folly, virtue or wickedness.... Justice and virtue are the vital principles of republican government.
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Attend with Diligence and strict Integrity to the Interest of your Correspondents and enter into no Engagements which you have not the almost certain Means of performing.
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To disarm the people... was the best and most effectual way to enslave them.
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I begin to grow heartily tired of the etiquette and nonsense so fashionable in this city.
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The [President's] Nomination, of Course, brings the Subject fully under the Consideration of the Senate who have then a Right to decide upon its Propriety or Impropriety.
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Considering the natural lust for power so inherent in man, I fear the thirst of power will prevail to oppress the people.
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Slavery discourages arts and manufactures.
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Slavery discourages arts and manufacturing ...[and] every master of slaves is born a petty tyrant.
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The Laws of Nature are the Laws of God, Whose authority can be superseded by no power on earth. A legislature must not obstruct our obedience to Him from whose punishment they cannot protect us. All human constitutions which contradict His laws, we are in conscience bound to disobey.
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In all our associations in all our agreements let us never lose sight of this fundamental maxim - that all power was originally lodged in, and consequently is derived from, the people.
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All men are by nature born equally free and independent.
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