Showing posts with label Equality before the law. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Equality before the law. Show all posts

Monday, December 9, 2013

Of Equal Rights Before The Courts And The Government

Daguerreotype of Andrew Jackson at age 77 or 7...
Daguerreotype of Andrew Jackson at age 77 or 78 (1844 or 1845). (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
"Distinctions in society will always exist under every just government.  Equality of talents, of education, or of wealth can not be produced by human institutions.  In the full enjoyment of the gifts of Heaven and the fruits of superior industry, economy, and virtue, every man is equally entitled to protection by law; but when laws undertake to add to these natural and just advantages artificial distinctions, to make the rich richer, and the potent more powerful, the humble members of society....  who have neither the time nor the means of securing like favors to themselves, have a right to complain of the injustice of their Government.  There are no necessary evils in government.  Its evils exist only in its abuses.  If it would confine itself to equal protection, and, as Heaven does its rains, shower its favors alike on the high and the low, the rich and the poor, it would be an unqualified blessing."

Andrew Jackson

"Here there is no room for favored classes or monopolies;  the principle of our Government is that of equal laws and freedom of industry."

Andrew Johnson

What all of this says, from our founding fathers, it is the statement of equality before the law and of full equal rights.  Anyone see this still in existence today?
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