Free Men Have Arms; Slaves Do Not.

Law, In Its Most General And Comprehensive Sense, Signifies A Rule Of Action; And Is Applied Indiscriminately To All Kinds Of Action, Whether Animate, Or Inanimate, Rational Or Irrational. Thus We Say, The Laws Of Motion, Of Gravitation, Of Optics, Or Mechanics, As Well As The Laws Of Nature And Of Nations. And It Is That Rule Of Action, Which Is Prescribed By Some Superior, And Which The Inferior Is Bound To Obey.

The Law Rarely Hesitates In Declaring Its Own Meaning; But The Judges Are Frequently Puzzled To Find Out The Meaning Of Others.

Every Wanton And Causeless Restraint Of The Will Of The Subject, Whether Practiced By A Monarch, A Nobility, Or A Popular Assembly, Is A Degree Of Tyranny.

Man Must Necessarily Be Subject To The Laws Of His Creator. This Will Of His Maker Is Called The Law Of Nature. This Law Of Nature Is Superior To Any Other. No Human Laws Are Of Any Validity If Contrary To This.

And, Lastly, To Vindicate These Rights, When Actually Violated And Attacked, The Subjects Of England Are Entitled, In The First Place, To The Regular Administration And Free Course Of Justice In The Courts Of Law; Next To The Right Of Petitioning The King And Parliament For Redress Of Grievances; And, Lastly, To The Right Of Having And Using Arms For Self Preservation And Defense.