Saturday, June 19, 2010 "We The People . . ." Part VIII

Saturday, June 19, 2010

"We The People . . ." Part VIII

Amendment VIII.

“No person shall be held to answer for a capital or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment of indictment of a grand jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces or in the militia, when in actual service in time of war of public danger; nor shall any persons be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or lime; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, not be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.”

It would be hard to elaborate further as this Amendment is so straightforward. It is simply more protection for you and me against Government intrusion into our personal lives and our property.
It would seem our founders took it to be as straightforward as it would seem to be to us.

“[It] is not a just government, nor is property secure under it, where arbitrary restrictions . . . deny to part of its citizens [the] free use of their facilities.” - JAMES MADISON

“Government is aptly compared to architecture; if the superstructure is too heavy for the foundation, the building totters, [even if] assisted by outward props.” - BENJAMIN FRANKLIN

“Acknowledging and adoring an overruling Providence, . . . with all these blessings, what more is necessary to make us a happy and prosperous people? Still, one thing more, fellow-citizens-a wise and frugal government, which shall restrain men from injuring one another, which shall leave them otherwise free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned. This is the sum of good government, and this is necessary to close the circle of our felicities.” - THOMAS JEFFERSON

“I wish . . . never to see all offices transferred to [the Capitol], where, further withdrawn from the eyes of the people, they may more secretly be bought and sold as at market.” - THOMAS JEFFERSON
“Here, the people are masters of the government: [in other places] the government is master of the people.” - JAMES WILSON, U. S. Supreme Court Justice and Signer of the Declaration and the Constitution

May God bless each of you,
David