FAITH OF THE FOUNDERS: James Otis on God Made All Men ‘Naturally Free’
(QUICK READ) — James Otis, the Massachusetts lawyer, is not among the most well-known members of the American Founders, but he’s the one who coined the phrase “No Taxation Without Representation.”
Otis was an ardent foe of tyranny and a passionate advocate of individual liberty for all men. He based his political views on his deep faith in the God of the Bible. His fiery speech in Boston in 1761 prompted John Adams to call Otis “a flame of fire.”
“There can be no prescriptions old enough to supersede the law of Nature, and the grant of Almighty God, who has given all men a right to be free. Government springs from the necessities of our nature, and has an everlasting foundation in the will of God. The first principle and the great end of government being to provide for the best good of all the people, this can be done only by a supreme legislature and executive, ultimately in the people, or the whole community, where God has placed it.
“The right of every man to his life, his liberty, no created being can rightfully contest. They are right derived from the Author of nature — inherent, inalienable, and indefeasible by any law, compacts, contracts, covenants or stipulations, which man can devise. God made all men naturally equal.” — As quoted by Benjamin Morris, page 141.
Christian Life and Character of the Civil Institutions of the United States of America.
Many of the quotes reprinted in HillFaith’s “The Faith of The Founders” weekly series of posts are compiled from Benjamin F. Morris’ classic work, “The Christian Life and Character of the Civil Institutions of the United States.” Morris, an historian and pastor, published the first edition more than a century ago.
Quotations are also compiled from Mark Strand, author of the Daily Inspirations email he shares on request here and that HillFaith highly recommends to all congressional aides, be they working on Capitol Hill or in a state or district office back home.
Mark was for 16 years President of the Congressional Institute, and he is a former fellow of the Harvard Institute of Politics. He was also a 24-year veteran congressional staffer, including four years as Chief of Staff to Sen. James Talent (R-Missouri).