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Quote by George Mason

“That no man, or set of men, are entitled to exclusive or separate emoluments or privileges from the community, but in consideration of public services; which, not being descendible, neither ought the offices of magistrate, legislator, or judge to be hereditary.”

Quote by George Mason

Author

George Mason was an American statesman, lawyer, and writer, renowned for his profound contributions to constitutional freedoms and rights. Born on December 11, 1725, and died on October 7, 1792, Mason was a key figure in the drafting of the Virginia Constitution and played a significant role in the American Revolutionary War. more

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“That the legislative and executive powers of the State should be separate and distinct from the judiciary; and that the members of the two first may be restrained from oppression, by feeling and participating the burdens of the people, they should, at fixed periods, be reduced to a private station, return into that body from which they were originally taken, and the vacancies be supplied by frequent, certain, and regular elections, in which all, or any part of the former members, to be again eligible, or ineligible, as the laws shall direct.”

“That in all capital or criminal prosecutions a man bath a right to demand the cause and nature of his accusation, to be confronted with the accusers and witnesses, to call for evidence in his favor, and to a speedy trial by an impartial jury of twelve men of his vicinage, without whose unanimous consent he cannot be found guilty; nor can he be compelled to give evidence against himself; that no man be deprived of his liberty, except by the law of the land or the judgment of his peers.”

Men Giving Law Found Causes Liberty Land Demand Judgment Evidence Criminals Favors Trials Guilty Witness Twelve Peers Consent Compelled Deprived Baths Jury Accusation Prosecution Accusers

Author:George Mason

“That general warrants, whereby an officer or messenger may be commanded to search suspected places without evidence of a fact committed, or to seize any person or persons not named, or whose offence is not particularly described and supported by evidence, are grievous and oppressive, and ought not to be granted.”

May Persons Facts Ought Evidence Committed Granted Officers Messengers Offence Warrants

Author:George Mason

“That in controversies respecting property, and in suits between man and man, the ancient trial by jury is preferable to any other, and ought to be held sacred.”

Men Ought Sacred Property Ancient Trials Suits Controversy Jury Trial By Jury

Author:George Mason

“That the people have a right to uniform government; and, therefore, that no government separate from, or independent of the government of Virginia, ought to be erected or established within the limits thereof.”

People Government Ought Limits Independent Uniforms Virginia

Author:George Mason

“Our All is at Stake, and the little Conveniencys and Comforts of Life, when set in Competition with our Liberty, ought to be rejected not with Reluctance but with Pleasure.”

Littles Pleasure Liberty Ought Comfort Competition Stakes Rejected Reluctance

Author:George Mason

“That elections of members to serve as representatives of the people, in assembly, ought to be free; and that all men, having sufficient evidence of permanent common interest with, and attachment to, the community, have the right of suffrage, and cannot be taxed or deprived of their property for public uses, without their own consent, or that of their representives so elected, nor bound by any law to which they have not, in like manner, assembled, for the public good.”

“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.”

People Law Rights Ought Authority Execution Representatives Consent

Author:George Mason

“Every selfish motive therefore, every family attachment, ought to recommend such a system of policy as would provide no less carefully for the rights and happiness of the lowest than of the highest orders of Citizens.”

Order Rights Policy Ought Citizens Highest Selfish Motive Attachment Lowest Selfish Motives

Author:George Mason

“A nuisance may be merely a right thing in the wrong place - like a pig in the parlor instead of the barnyard.”

May Right Thing Pigs Nuisance Parlor

Author:George Sutherland