Kentucky Quotes

This commonwealth does upon the most deliberate reconsideration declare, that the said alien and sedition laws, are in their opinion, palpable violations of the said constitution

We all must follow the rule of law, not the rule of aldermen.

That the General Assembly doth particularly protest against the palpable and alarming infractions of the Constitution, in the two late cases of the "Alien and Sedition Acts" passed at the last session of Congress; the first of which exercises a power no where delegated to the federal government, and which by uniting legislative and judicial powers to those of executive, subverts the general principles of free government; as well as the particular organization, and positive provisions of the federal constitution; and the other of which acts, exercises in like manner, a power not delegated by the constitution, but on the contrary, expressly and positively forbidden by one of the amendments thereto; a power, which more than any other, ought to produce universal alarm, because it is leveled against that right of freely examining public characters and measures, and of free communication among the people thereon, which has ever been justly deemed, the only effectual guardian of every other right

The law, the will of the majority expressed in orderly, constitutional methods, is the only king to which we bow.

Freedom of opinion can only exist when the government thinks itself secure.

There was no censorship of the press: in general, the War Measures Act could have been made even more radical.

The Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798 went after unnaturalized immigrants as well as opposition newspaper editors.

The purpose of a written constitution is to bind up the several branches of government by certain laws, which, when they transgress, their acts shall become nullities; to render unnecessary an appeal to the people, or in other words a rebellion, on every infraction of their rights, on the peril that their acquiescence shall be construed into an intention to surrender those rights.

A State is not morally free to allow anarchy and license ... even if the majority should so desire.

Legislatures have no right to set up an inquisition and examine into the private opinions of men.

All constitutional laws are binding on all the people, in the new States and in the old ones, whether they consent to be bound by them or not.

While the Executive may exclude an alien for almost any reason, it cannot do so solely because the Executive disagrees with the contents of the alien’s speech and therefore wants to prevent the alien from sharing this speech with a willing American audience.

If members of Iran's parliament are prevented from criticizing the judiciary, then they should close down the parliament.

A law is simply a reflection of the momentary perception of self-interest by a majority of a legislative body.

No Stamp Act, No Sedition Act, No Alien Bills, No Land Tax, downfall to the Tyrants of America; peace and retirement to the President; Long Live the Vice President.

…freedom of expression cannot be suppressed on account of threat of demonstration and processions or threat of violence. That would tantamount to negation of the rule of law and a surrender to blackmail and intimidation. It is the duty of the State to protect the freedom of expression since it is a liberty guaranteed against the State. The State cannot plead its inability to handle the hostile audience problem. It is its obligatory duty to prevent it and protect the freedom of expression

It has been held, right up to the present day, that the freedom of individual must take second place to the security of the State.....

How do we protect free speech, when it may well be seen by the majority of the population as something that undermines the “just requirements of morality, public order and the general welfare…? Legislating against free speech is always dangerous. Worse, in some countries and contexts, lawsuits have been used to harass those who hold dissenting or contrarian views.

The Alien & Sedition Acts are a nullity as absolute and palpable as if Congress had ordered us to fall down and worship a golden image.

Nothing is more destructive of respect for the government and the law of the land than passing laws which cannot be enforced

Laws are not masters but servants, and he rules them who obeys them.

After 200 years, the 1st Amendment remains only as strong, or as weak, as the citizens it is designed to protect.

It is to be lamented that Officers will not exercise more discretion and prudence when entrusted with the execution of an order which seems to invade the rights of a Citizen not perfectly conformable to the Laws.

One-half of the people of this nation to-day are utterly powerless to blot from the statute books an unjust law, or to write there a new and a just one.

Censorship laws are blunt instruments, not sharp scalpels. Once enacted, they are easily misapplied to merely unpopular or only marginally dangerous speech.