Adrift Quote by Thomas Jefferson
“How to check these unconstitutional invasions of rights by the Federal judiciary? Not by impeachment in the first instance, but by a strong protestation of both houses of Congress that such and such doctrines advanced by the Supreme Court are contrary to the Constitution; and if afterwards they relapse into the same heresies, impeach and set the whole adrift. For what was the government divided into three branches, but that each should watch over the others and oppose their usurpations?”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Congressional Debate, 1790
Advocates using strong congressional protest to check judicial overreach before resorting to impeachment, emphasizing checks and balances.
In simple terms: Use congressional protest to curb judicial overreach.
Key Takeaway
Check courts via strong protest.
Themes
government
law
checks and balances
Mood
serious
determined
Type
political
historical
When to use this quote
- legislative sessions
- court rulings
- public hearings
Key Concepts
Separation of powers
constitutionalism
Questions to Reflect On
- What mechanisms can strengthen legislative oversight?
- How can citizens support congressional action?
A Different Perspective
Protest may be insufficient against entrenched doctrines.
![“This doctrine ['that the condition of man cannot be ameliorated, that what has been must ever be, and that to secure ourselves where we are we must tread with awful reverence in the footsteps of our fathers']is the genuine fruit of the alliance between Church and State, the tenants of which…” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/78e/thomas-jefferson-43_alliances_this-doctrine-that-the-condition-of-man_2558220.jpg)
![“[States and the Federal government are] coordinate departments of one simple and integral whole... The one is the domestic, the other the foreign branch of the same government.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/401/thomas-jefferson-43_branches_states-and-the-federal-government-are-co_2619.jpg)
![“Single acts of tyranny may be ascribed to the accidental opinion of a day; but a series of oppressions, begun at a distinguished period and pursued unalterably through every change of ministers, too plainly prove a deliberate, systematic plan of reducing [a people] to slavery.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/00c/thomas-jefferson-43_change_single-acts-of-tyranny-may-be-ascribed-t_5515.jpg)
![“Though you cannot see, when you take one step, what will be the next, yet follow truth, justice, and plain dealing, and never fear their leading you out of [any difficult situation] in the easiest manner possible...” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ebe/thomas-jefferson-43_difficult_though-you-cannot-see-when-you-take-one_9828.jpg)
