Thomas Jefferson
"The true foundation of republican government is the equal right of every citizen in his person and property and in their management."
[Thomas Jefferson to Samuel Kercheval, 1816. ME 15:36; Source: http://famguardian.org/Subjects/Politics/ThomasJefferson/jeff1550.htm]
Black's Law Dictionary, Sixth Edition, page 1302:
Republic. A commonwealth; the form of government in which the administration of affairs is open to all the citizens. In another sense, it signifies the state, independently of its form of government.
[Black's Law Dictionary, Sixth Edition, p. 1302]
Black's Law Dictionary, Sixth Edition, p. 1303:
Republican government. A government in the republican form; a government of the people; a government by representatives chosen by the people. In re Duncan, 139 U.S. 449, 11 S.Ct. 573, 35 L.Ed. 219.
[Black's Law Dictionary, Sixth Edition, p. 1303]
Sorry Mr. Franklin: We're All Democrats Now-article by Congressman Ron Paul
A Republic-If you can
Keep It-Speech by Congressman Ron Paul, January 31, 2000, House
of Representatives
"A Republican Form of Government", Antishyster News Magazine, Volume
11, No. 3
How Scoundrels Corrupted Our Republican Form of Government-from Great IRS Hoax, section 6.1
Red Skelton's Pledge of Allegiance-fantastic! Tells it all!
Pacific States Telephone and Telegraph Company v. State of Oregon, 223 U.S. 118 (1912):
“We premise by saying that while the controversy which this record presents is of much importance, it is not novel. It is important, since it calls upon us to decide whether it is the duty of the courts or the province of Congress to determine when a state has ceased to be republican in form, and to enforce the guaranty of the Constitution on that subject. ”
[Pacific States Telephone and Telegraph Company v. State of Oregon, 223 U.S. 118 (1912)]
James Madison's Notes, May 31st, 1787: Legislative intent of "Republican Form of Government":
The apprehension of the Framers in regard to “democracy”, is exhibited in Madison's Notes May 31st in which Elbridge Gerry and Roger Sherman, delegates to the Convention from Massachusetts and Connecticut, urged the Convention to create a system which would eliminate "the evils we experience," saying that those "evils . . .flow from the excess of democracy..."
The decision of the Framers in providing a guarantee to a Republican Form of Government was not an accident, but to intentionally avoid the predictable consequences of “direct democracy”. Democracy is a factious and intolerant group unbound by oath to support and defend our constitutional system!
[James Madison's Notes, May 31st, 1787: Legislative intent of "Republican Form of Government"]
Federalist Paper #10: James Madison, Legislative intent of "Republican Form of Government":
In Federalist No 10., which addresses “democracy” Madison begins by talking about “the violence of faction” and the importance to provide “a proper cure for it”, and also emphatically states: “ that such democracies have ever been spectacles of turbulence and contention; have ever been found incompatible with personal security or the rights of property; and have in general been as short in their lives as they have been violent in their deaths.”
And so, as also stated by Madison, "The inference to which we are brought is that the causes of faction cannot be removed, and that relief is only to be sought in the means of controlling its effects."
And what are the evil effects? An assault on personal security and individual property rights as indicated by Madison. And what are the means provided to controlling its evil effects? Madison makes reference to a republic, in which:
“the scheme of representation takes place, opens a different prospect, and promises the cure for which we are seeking. Let us examine the points in which it varies from pure democracy, and we shall comprehend both the nature of the cure and the efficacy which it must derive from the Union.
The two great points of difference between a democracy and a republic are: first, the delegation of the government, in the latter, to a small number of citizens elected by the rest; secondly, the greater number of citizens, and greater sphere of country, over which the latter may be extended. The effect of the first difference is, on the one hand, to refine and enlarge the public views, by passing them through the medium of a chosen body of citizens, whose wisdom may best discern the true interest of their country, and whose patriotism and love of justice will be least likely to sacrifice it to temporary or partial considerations. Under such a regulation, it may well happen that the public voice, pronounced by the representatives of the people, will be more consonant to the public good than if pronounced by the people themselves, convened for the purpose.”
[Federalist Paper #10: James Madison, Legislative intent of "Republican Form of Government"]
Federalist Paper #68: Alexander Hamilton, Legislative intent of "Republican Form of Government":
This same conclusion concerning elected representatives is also expressed by Hamilton in Federalist No. 68:
“A small number of persons, selected by their fellow-citizens from the general mass, will be most likely to possess the information and discernment requisite to such complicated investigations”
So, here we have it, from those who not only attended the Convention, but elaborated upon the protection afforded against direct democracy, by which an intolerant mob has now managed, in Florida , via the initiative process, to sneak by, and threatens to attack, under color of law, the unalienable rights of individuals which were intentionally intended to find protection by having elected representatives legislating such matters as connected with Amendment 6, and not an intolerant factious mob!
[Federalist Paper #68: Alexander Hamilton, Legislative intent of "Republican Form of Government"]