“Some men look at constitutions with sanctimonious reverence, and deem them like the arc of the covenant, too sacred to be touched.”

Too bad Mr. Norris didn’t keep reading.

Later:

“It is this preposterous idea which has lately deluged Europe in blood. Their monarchs, instead of wisely yielding to the gradual change of circumstances, of favoring progressive accommodation to progressive improvement, have clung to old abuses, entrenched themselves behind steady habits, and obliged their subjects to seek through blood and violence rash and ruinous innovations, which, had they been referred to the peaceful deliberations and collected wisdom of the nation, would have been put into acceptable and salutary forms.”

It is a pleasure to read Mr. Jefferson, as always.

http://teachingamericanhistory…..cument=459

;-)

Macbeth