David J. Brewer Quotes

The power of eminent domain is merely the means to an end.

The power of eminent domain is essential to a sovereign government.

The fifth amendment of the U.S. Constitution guarantees that no private property shall be taken for a public use without the payment of just compensation.

While I believe our Constitution allows for State and local governments to execute the power of eminent domain for those purposes that specifically serve the public good, condemning property solely to implement economic development plans is not serving the public good.

The exercise of the power of eminent domain is against common right. It subverts the usual attributes of the ownership of property.

Private property ought to be subservient to public uses, when necessity requires it; nevertheless, whenever any particular man's property is taken for the use of the public, the owner ought to receive an equivalent in money

The case decided on Thursday, though, seemed promising to takings fans because it wasn't about compensation. It was about the requirement that any government taking must have a 'public purpose.'

Last Thursday, our Supreme Court backed that local governments can co-opt private property, and give it to another private entity, for economic development.

He has called for a repeal of the Fifth Amendment as it affects the right of private property.

We need property dedicated to the general benefit in addition to that intended for private use.

What 'eminent domain' laws mean in practice is that politicians have a right to seize your property and turn it over to someone else, in order to gain campaign contributions and win votes.

Wherever indeed a right of property is infringed for the general good, if the nature of the case admits of compensation, it ought to be made; but if compensation be impracticable, that impracticability ought to be an obstacle to a clearly essential reform.

Governments should not be able to bulldoze a person's home or business to benefit other individuals.

One would expect that private property taken by eminent domain would become land available for public use such as parks and roads. Unfortunately, this decision creates a loophole for government to manipulate the definition of public use simply to generate greater tax revenue.

In a polling conducted by the Wall Street Journal, 11 out of 12 Americans said they oppose the taking of private property, even if it is for public economic good.

The 'takings' clause of the Fifth Amendment is for conservatives what the equal protection clause of the 14th is for liberals.

No power on earth has a right to take our property from us without our consent.

American capitalism no longer guarantees the property rights of small owners when they conflict with private interests such as corporations building pipelines. Their need for corporate profits overrides what once were private property rights.

The right to private property is inconceivable without responsibilities to the common good.

[The] fundamental principal of all just legislation [is] that the legislature shall not take the property of A and give it to B.

While property may he regulated to a certain extent, if regulation goes too far it will he recognized as a taking.

Government has no other end but the preservation of property.

Private property is a creature of society, and is subject to the calls of that society, wherever its necessities shall require it…

All men are born equally free and independent, and have certain natural, inherent and unalienable rights, amongst which are the enjoying and defending life and liberty; acquiring, possessing and protecting property, and pursuing and obtaining happiness and safety

All men are born free and equal, and have certain natural, essential, and unalienable rights; among which may be reckoned the right of enjoying and defending their lives and liberties; that of acquiring, possessing, and protecting property; in fine, that of seeking and obtaining their safety and happiness.