James Iredell

“ The majority having the rule in their own hands, may take care of themselves ; but in what condition are the minority, if the power of the other is without limit? These considerations, I suppose, or similar ones, occasioned such express provisions for the personal liberty of each citizen, which the citizens, when they formed the Constitution, chose to reserve as an unalienated right, and not to leave at the mercy of any Assembly whatever. ”

“ The restriction might be attended with inconvenience; but they chose to risk the inconvenience, for the sake of the advantage; and in every transaction we must act in the same manner: we must choose between evils of some sort or other : the imperfection of man can never keep entirely clear of all, The Constitution, therefore, being a fundamental law, and a law in writing of the solemn nature I have mentioned (which is the light in which it strikes me) , the judicial power, in the exercise of their authority, must take notice of it as the groundwork of that as well as of all other authority ”

“ It can be no man's interest certainly to make himself odious to the people by giving unnecessary and wanton offence. It is also to be considered, that though the Judges are permanent in station (at least as long as the Act of their appointment is in force*) , yet, as their salaries are during pleasure, they are in fact dependent on the Assembly, few men likely to be Judges being rich enough to consider them as a trifle. ”