James Otis
James Otis
James Otis Jr.was a lawyer in colonial Massachusetts, a member of the Massachusetts provincial assembly, and an early advocate of the Patriot views against British policy that led to the American Revolution. His catchphrase "Taxation without representation is tyranny" became the basic Patriot position...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionLawyer
Date of Birth5 February 1725
CityBarnstable, MA
CountryUnited States of America
freedom men law
There can be no prescription old enough to supersede the Law of Nature and the grant of God Almighty, who has given to all men a natural right to be free, and they have it ordinarily in their power to make themselves so, if they please.
law people safety
The people's safety is the law of God.
men law house
Now one of the most essential branches of English liberty, is the freedom of one's house. A man's house is his castle; and while he is quiet, he is as well guarded as a prince in his castle. This writ of assistance, if it should be declared legal, would totally annihilate this privilege.
rights law america
Every British Subject born on the continent of America, or in any other of the British dominions, is by the law of God and nature, by the common law, and by act of parliament, (exclusive of all charters from the crown) entitled to all the natural, essential, inherent and inseparable rights of our fellow subjects in Great- Britain.
men law tyrants
[Slave] trade ... is the most shocking violation of the law of nature, has a direct tendency to diminish ... liberty, and makes every dealer in it a tyrant, from the director of an African company to the petty chapman [peddler].... It is a clear truth, that those who every day barter away other men's liberty will soon care little for their own.
men law white
The colonists are by the law of nature free-born, as indeed all man are, white or black...It is a clear truth that those who every day barter away other men's liberty will soon care little for their own.
argue cause charged
I was solicited to argue this cause as Advocate-General; and, because I would not, I have been charged with desertion from my office.
If we are not represented, we are slaves.
care clear soon truth
It is a clear truth that those who every day barter away other men's liberty will soon care little for their own.
guarded house prince whilst
A man's house is his castle; and whilst he is quiet, he is as well guarded as a prince in his castle.
books concerning general honors justice office peace search suspected warrants
Your Honors will find in the old books concerning the office of a justice of the peace precedents of general warrants to search suspected houses.
assist command enter third
In the third place, a person with this writ, in the daytime, may enter all houses, shops, etc., at will, and command all to assist him.
days mechanic served
I only served with them 64 days as a mechanic in Italy,
void constitution natural
An act against the Constitution is void; an act against natural equity is void.