“Each individual of the society has a right to be protected by
it in the enjoyment of his life, liberty, and property, according
to standing laws. He is obliged, consequently, to contribute his
share to the expense of this protection; and to give his personal
service, or an equivalent, when necessary. But no part of the
property of any individual can, with justice, be taken from him,
or applied to public uses, without his own consent, or that of
the representative body of the people. In fine, the people of
this commonwealth are not controllable by any other laws than
those to which their constitutional representative body have
given their consent.”
–John Adams