“All the perplexities, confusion and distress in America arise, not
from the defects in their constitution or confederation, not from want of
honor or virtue, so much as from downright ignorance of the nature of
coin, credit and circulation."
- John Q. Adams, 1829
"Whenever legislators endeavor to take away and
destroy the property of the people, or to reduce them to slavery under
arbitrary power, they put themselves into a state of war with the people,
who are thereupon absolved from any further obedience."
- John Locke 1690
