John Lansing, Jr. Quote - Liberty Quotes Blog

"All free constitutions are formed with two views --
to deter the governed from crime, and the governors from tyranny."

by:	John Lansing, Jr. (1754-1829) American lawyer, politician
Source:	Debate, Constitutional Convention, 1787
Rating:
Categories:	Constitution, Crime, Government, Tyranny
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Reader comments about this quote:

He got it half right, maybe that is another reason why he walked out of the Convention and didn't sign the Constitution. -- Mike, Norwalk 7
Good quotes say much with little words. -- warren, olateh 5
I think we should be focusing more on the second half of the quote. -- E Archer, NYC 5 1
Unfortunately the governors are not being governed. -- Robert, Sarasota 5 1
Hell Yeah! -- Bloemer, Cincinnati 5 1
Yo -- Dinkleburg 3 1
yolo -- katie, yomoma 1
Sounds about right -- spencer, yodaddy 2
The US Constitution was originally formed as a rule book for the government, not the people. In time, the tone and context shifted to positivist law yoking the people with duties and obligations to transfer labor and property to the government. We've come a long way, baby. -- E Archer, NYC 2
-- jim k, Austin
-- Mary, MI
So True Archer, timing is everything. -- Ronw13, Idaho
-- Ronw13, Idaho
yes!!! for real!! -- yolo, for real
im so sorryi didnt mean it -- yolo, for real
I think we need a free constitution. -- Fredrick William Sillik, Anytown