I believe the excerpts below are self-explanatory, and require no commentary on my part.
Code of Hammurabi (1772 BC)
7. If any one buy from the son or the
slave of another man, without witnesses or a contract, silver or
gold, a male or female slave, an ox or a sheep, an ass or anything,
or if he take it in charge, he is considered a thief and shall be put
to death.
Magna Carta (1215)
28. No constable or other bailiff of
ours shall take corn or other provisions from any one without
immediately tendering money therefor, unless he can have postponement
thereof by permission of the seller.
...
31. Neither we nor our bailiffs shall
take, for our castles or for any other work of ours, wood which is
not ours, against the will of the owner of that wood.
US Constitution , Amendment V (1797)
No person shall be held to answer for a
capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or
indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or
naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of
War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same
offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be
compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor
be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of
law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just
compensation.
Kelo v. City of New London (2005)
"Under the banner of economic
development, all private property is now vulnerable to being taken
and transferred to another private citizen, so long as it is to be
upgraded...in the process." (Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day
O'Conner, minority opinion).
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