Hacker Newsnew | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submitlogin

>writings of the Founders... ascribe all of the rights in the Bill of Rights to individuals

Can you point me in the direction of these writings?



The Federalist Papers, particularly those of Hamilton and Madison. Notably #84: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federalist_No._84

Ironically, Hamilton was both wrong and right here. He was right that by enumerating rights in the BoR that it has empowered the government to view those rights as the only ones that are untouchable (and not even that.) However, he was wrong that the COTUS would stand on its own to protect individual rights due to its strict limiting of the government's ability to infringe those natural rights -- which it very much has done.


“The Constitution shall never be construed to prevent the people of the United States who are peaceable citizens from keeping their own arms.” – Samuel Adams, Massachusetts Ratifying Convention, 1788

Later in life, even:

“The Constitution of most of our states (and of the United States) assert that all power is inherent in the people; that they may exercise it by themselves; that it is their right and duty to be at all times armed.” – Thomas Jefferson, letter to John Cartwright, 5 June 1824




Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: