Page:The Supreme Court in United States History vol 1.djvu/86

60 of the basic principles can be found than in the memorable charge of Chief Justice Jay at the first of these Circuit Courts, held in New York on April 4, 1790: "It cannot be too strongly impressed on the minds of all how greatly our individual prosperity depends on our National prosperity, and how greatly our National prosperity depends on a well-organized, vigorous government, ruling by wise and equal laws, faithfully executed. Nor is such a government unfriendly to liberty—that liberty which is really estimable. On the contrary, nothing but a strong government of laws, irresistibly bearing down arbitrary power and licentiousness, can defend it against those two formidable enemies. Let it be remembered that civil liberty consists, not in a right to every man to do just what he pleases, but it consists in an equal right to all citizens to have, enjoy and do, in peace, security and without molestation, whatever the equal and constitutional laws of the country admit to be consistent with the public good.'* He pointed out that it was universally agreed that it was "of the last importance to a free people that they who are vested with Executive, Legislative and Judicial powers should rest satisfied