John Dickinson Quote

No free people ever existed, or can ever exist, without keeping the purse strings in their own hands. Where this is the case, they have a constitutional check upon the administration, which may thereby by brought into order without violence. But when such a power is not lodged in the people, oppression proceeds uncontrolled in its career, till the governed, transported into rage, seek redress in the midst of blood and confusion.

The speech of John Dickinson... May 24th, 1764... praying the king for a change of the government of the province... 1764 (ed. 1801)