Jefferson said: "Bind them (elected representatives) down from mischief by the chains of the Constitution."
In order for "the People" to regain control of the form of constitutional "self-government" they structured, however, we must rediscover the ideas of liberty upon which that constitution was founded--as well as the power which was retained by "the People."
The concluding paragraph of Justice Joseph Story's "Commentaries on the Constitution . . . ." may be useful here:
"§ 1906. . . . . The national constitution is our last, and our only security. United we stand; divided we fall.
"§ 1907. If these Commentaries shall but inspire in the rising generation a more ardent love of their country, an unquenchable thirst for liberty, and a profound reverence for the constitution and the Union, then they will have accomplished all, that their author ought to desire. Let the American youth never forget, that they possess a noble inheritance, bought by the toils, and sufferings, and blood of their ancestors; and capable, if wisely improved, and faithfully guarded, of transmitting to their latest posterity all the substantial blessings of fife, the peaceful enjoyment of liberty, property, religion, and independence. The structure has been erected by architects of consummate skill and fidelity; its foundations are solid; its compartments are beautiful, as well as useful; its arrangements are full of wisdom and order; and its defences are impregnable from without. It has been reared for immortality, if the work of man may justly aspire to such a title. It may, nevertheless, perish in an hour by the folly, or corruption, or negligence of its only keepers, THE PEOPLE. Republics are created by the virtue, public spirit, and intelligence of the citizens. They fall, when the wise are banished from the public councils, because they dare to be honest, and the profligate are rewarded, because they flatter the people, in order to betray them."
A member of the original U. S. Supreme Court, James Iredell (NC), appointed by Washington, declared:
"The only real security of liberty, in any country, is the jealousy and circumspection of the people themselves. Let them be watchful over their rulers. Should they find a combination against their liberties, and all other methods appear insufficient to preserve them, they have, thank God, an ultimate remedy. That power which created the government can destroy it. Should the government, on trial, be found to want amendments, those amendments can be made in a regular method, in a mode prescribed by the Constitution itself [...]. We have [this] watchfulness of the people, which I hope will never be found wanting."- Elliot, 4:130
From StreetLaw.org, come the following Jefferson quotations on the subject:
"2. But the Chief Justice says, 'There must be an ultimate arbiter somewhere.' True, there must; but does that prove it is either party? The ultimate arbiter is the people of the Union, assembled by their deputies in convention, at the call of Congress or of two-thirds of the States. Let them decide to which they mean to give an authority claimed by two of their organs. And it has been the peculiar wisdom and felicity of our Constitution, to have provided this peaceable appeal, where that of other nations is at once to force."
—Thomas Jefferson to William Johnson, 1823. ME 15:451
3."But, you may ask, if the two departments [i.e., federal and state] should claim each the same subject of power, where is the common umpire to decide ultimately between them? In cases of little importance or urgency, the prudence of both parties will keep them aloof from the questionable ground; but if it can neither be avoided nor compromised, a convention of the States must be called to ascribe the doubtful power to that department which they may think best."
—Thomas Jefferson to John Cartwright, 1824. ME 16:47
Yes the mechanism/mechanisms are in the Constitution but IMO with this administration and its fellow travelers in congress and the media we no longer have a functioning Constitution.
It must be brought to general knowledge what numerous people in this administration have said “we know the free market is a lie and power comes from a barrel of a gun”.
Here we have administration officials, who side with skirting the Constitution at every turn giving us a veiled or maybe not so veiled warning that they will use guns to keep their power.
A month or so ago when I suggested lovers of the Constitution look at Jefferson’s words some slime on FR told me to go ahead and start it. Like a liberal he was more than willing to sit back and let others do his work. When we cannot even depend upon Conservatives to retain what was fought and died for by the founders we have lost the country.
FACT: From many federal agencies we are being viewed as possible terrorists.
FACT: This administration has shown it is perfectly willing to attack its perceived enemies. EG Ask Arizona.
FACT: This administration has expressed the opinion the USSC cannot rule on laws from congress.
FACT: This administration has implemented a no anti-government speech bubble enforced by the Secret Service thus rendering the main purpose of the First Amendment as in regards to speech worthless.
FACT: This administration has TOLD us it would rule by Executive order even though Executive Orders should only apply to the executive branch but that would imply we still have a functioning Constitution and IMO we do not.
FACT: This administration will forcefully work to strike down any new State laws requiring Voter ID.
So again I state, if this administration can and is doing all of the above, and if they are protecting the FALSE image of honest elections just who will step in to protect us other than ourselves and we appear to be unwilling.