On the recordJanuary 1, 1791
It was not the act of congress, because it is repugnant to the principles of representative government that a body should give power to itself.
Said by
Thomas Paine
Source
gutenberg.orgThomas Paine: “It was not the act of congress, because it is repugnant to the principles of representative government that a body…”
Editor's note · Context
Paine asserts that a representative body cannot legitimately grant power to itself, as such authority must originate from the people.
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