February 15, 2011 12:46PM 

# Sen. Paul and the Writs of Assistance 

By [John Samples](https://www.cato.org/people/john-samples) 

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Senator Rand Paul is moving beyond economic issues. His critique of the Patriot Act may be found [here](http://www.randpaul2010.com/images/Patriot%20Act%20Dear%20Colleague.pdf).

Sen. Paul lauds James Otis, Jr, the most important opponent of the writs of assistance imposed by the British prior to the American Revolution. By invoking the name of this great patriot, Sen. Paul is trying to recall for Americans the original meaning of our Revolution and Constitution. He is practicing a politics of the original public meaning of America.

An astonishing performance.

##### Related Tags 

[Constitutional Law](https://www.cato.org/constitutional-law), [Robert A. Levy Center for Constitutional Studies](https://www.cato.org/robert-levy-center-constitutional-studies) 

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