17761972

John Dickinson:
Mr. Jefferson, I have very little interest in your paper, as there's no doubt in my mind that we've all but heard the last of it, but I am curious about one thing. Why do you refer to King George as a... tyrant?

Thomas Jefferson:
Because he *is* a tyrant.

John Dickinson:
I remind you, Mr. Jefferson, that this "tyrant" is still your king.

Thomas Jefferson:
When a king becomes a tyrant, he thereby breaks the contract binding his subjects to him.

John Dickinson:
How so?

Thomas Jefferson:
By taking away their rights.

John Dickinson:
Rights that came from him in the first place.

Thomas Jefferson:
All except one. The right to be free comes from nature.

John Dickinson:
And are we not free, Mr. Jefferson?

Thomas Jefferson:
Homes entered without warrant, citizens arrested without charge, and in many places, free assembly itself denied.

John Dickinson:
No one approves of such things, but these are dangerous times.