2 Elliot's Debates, 94; 2 Bancroft, History of the Constitution, 267.
The people themselves have it in
their power effectually to resist usurpation, without being driven
to an appealing arms. An act of usurpation is not obligatory:
It is not law; and any man may be justified in his resistance.
Let him be considered as a criminal by the general government; yet
only his fellow citizens can convict him. They are his jury,
and if they pronounce him innocent, not all the powers of congress
can hurt him; and innocent they certainly will pronounce him, if
the supposed law he resisted was an act of usurpation.
Theophilus Parsons, Massachusetts
Convention for ratification of the U.S. Constitution
But, sir, the people themselves
have it in their power effectually to resist usurpation, without
being driven to an appeal of arms. An act of usurpation is not obligatory;
it is not law; and any man may be justified in his resistance. Let
him be considered as a criminal by the general government, yet only
his fellow-citizens can convict him; they are his jury, and if they
pronounce him innocent, not all the powers of Congress can hurt
him; and innocent they certainly will pronounce him, if the supposed
law he resisted was an act of usurpation. "
[Theophilus Parsons,
Massachusetts Convention for ratification of the U.S. Constitution]