"Every man, and every body of men on earth, possesses the right of self-government. They receive it with
their being from the hand of
nature. Individuals exercise it by their single will; collections of men by that of their majority; for the law of the majority is the natural law of every society of men. All, too, will bear in mind this
sacred principle, that though the will of
the majority is in all cases to prevail, that will, to be rightful, must be
reasonable; that the minority possess their equal rights, which equal laws
must protect, and to violate which would be oppression. Let us, then,
fellow citizens, unite with one heart and one mind."
Thomas Jefferson
|