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== James Otis ==

== James Otis ==

It's worth discussing works that were highly influential with the Founders - John Locke is one, James Otis Jr. is another.  In his pamphlet ''The Rights of the British Colonies asserted and proved'' Otis wrote the following: (p. 51) [https://archive.org/details/cihm_52678/page/n51/mode/2up]

It's worth discussing works that were highly influential with the Founders - John Locke is one, [[James Otis Jr.]] is another.  In his pamphlet ''The Rights of the British Colonies asserted and proved'' Otis wrote the following: (p. 51) [https://archive.org/details/cihm_52678/page/n51/mode/2up]

<blockquote>To say the Parliament is absolute and arbitrary is a contradiction. The Parliament cannot make 2 and 2, 5: omnipotency cannot do it. The supreme power in a state is jus dicere only: jus dare, strictly speaking, belongs alone to GOD. Parliaments are in all cases to declare what is for the good of the whole; but it is not the declaration of Parliament that makes it so. There must be in every instance a higher authority, viz., GOD. Should an act of Parliament be against any of ''his'' natural laws, which are immutably true, their declaration would be contrary to eternal truth, equity, and justice, and consequently void: and so it would be adjudged by the Parliament itself when convinced of their mistake.</blockquote>

<blockquote>To say the Parliament is absolute and arbitrary is a contradiction. The Parliament cannot make 2 and 2, 5: omnipotency cannot do it. The supreme power in a state is jus dicere only: jus dare, strictly speaking, belongs alone to GOD. Parliaments are in all cases to declare what is for the good of the whole; but it is not the declaration of Parliament that makes it so. There must be in every instance a higher authority, viz., GOD. Should an act of Parliament be against any of ''his'' natural laws, which are immutably true, their declaration would be contrary to eternal truth, equity, and justice, and consequently void: and so it would be adjudged by the Parliament itself when convinced of their mistake.</blockquote>

Otis lived his entire life to my knowledge in Massachusetts, and was active in Patriot causes including official duty in the Stamp Act Congress.  He is not usually referred to with the term "Founder", however he was personal friends and celebrated by many of them familiar with his work.  [[User:Progressingamerica|Progressingamerica]] ([[User talk:Progressingamerica|talk]]) 17:24, August 6, 2022 (EDT)

Otis lived his entire life to my knowledge in Massachusetts, and was active in Patriot causes including official duty in the [[Stamp Act Congress]].  He is not usually referred to with the term "Founder", however he was personal friends and celebrated by many of them familiar with his work.  [[User:Progressingamerica|Progressingamerica]] ([[User talk:Progressingamerica|talk]]) 17:24, August 6, 2022 (EDT)