Men when they enter into society, yield up part of their
natural liberty, for the sake of being protected by
government. If they yield up all their natural rights they are
absolute slaves to their governors. If they yield up less
than IS necessary, the government is so feeble, that it
cannot protect them. To yield up so much, as IS necessary
for the purposes of government; and to retain all beyond
what is necessary, is the great point, which ought, if
possible, to be attained in the formation of a constitution.
To define what portion of his natural liberty, the subject
shall at the time be entitled to retain, is one great end of a
bill of rights.
Without such a bill of rights, firmly
securing the privileges of the subject, the government is
always in danger of degenerating into tyranny.
What important Anti-Federalist idea is expressed in this excerpt from the Anti-
Federalist Papers?
PREVIOUS