James Otis
James Otis
James Otis Jr.was a lawyer in colonial Massachusetts, a member of the Massachusetts provincial assembly, and an early advocate of the Patriot views against British policy that led to the American Revolution. His catchphrase "Taxation without representation is tyranny" became the basic Patriot position...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionLawyer
Date of Birth5 February 1725
CityBarnstable, MA
CountryUnited States of America
assist command enter third
In the third place, a person with this writ, in the daytime, may enter all houses, shops, etc., at will, and command all to assist him.
guarded house prince whilst
A man's house is his castle; and whilst he is quiet, he is as well guarded as a prince in his castle.
argue cause charged
I was solicited to argue this cause as Advocate-General; and, because I would not, I have been charged with desertion from my office.
hands sweat divine-right
I am forced to get my living by the labour of my hand; and the sweat of my brow... for bitter bread, earned under the frowns of some who have no natural or divine right to be above me, and entirely owe their grandeur and honor to grinding the faces of the poor...
spring government revolution
Government is founded not on force, as was the theory of Hobbes; nor on compact, as was the theory of Locke and of the revolution of 1688; nor on property, as was the assertion of Harrington. It springs from the necessities of our nature, and has an everlasting foundation in the unchangeable will of God.
rights law america
Every British Subject born on the continent of America, or in any other of the British dominions, is by the law of God and nature, by the common law, and by act of parliament, (exclusive of all charters from the crown) entitled to all the natural, essential, inherent and inseparable rights of our fellow subjects in Great- Britain.
majesty dominion revolution
No parts of his Majesty's dominions can be taxed without their consent.
tests invincible writs-of-assistance
I do not say that, when brought to the test, I shall be invincible.
void constitution natural
An act against the Constitution is void; an act against natural equity is void.
parliament congress cases
Parliaments are in all cases to declare what is good for the whole; but it is not the declaration of parliament that makes it so.
determined i-am-determined consequence
Let the consequences be what they will, I am determined to proceed.
tyrants taxation-without-representation tyranny
Taxation without representation is tyranny.
hands dying slavery
I will to my dying day oppose, with all the powers and faculties God has given me, all such instruments of slavery on the one hand and villainy on the other as this Writ of Assistance is.
sister lightning dear-god
My dear sister, I hope, when God Almighty in his righteous providence shall take me out of time into eternity, that it will be by a flash of lightning.