Your search for "taxation on spending" returned 74 results from 26 Founders.
Oliver Ellsworth:"Direct taxation can go but little way towards raising a revenue. To raise money in this way, people must be provident; they must be constantly laying up money to answer the demands of the collector. But you cannot make people thus provident; if you would do anything to purpose you must come in when they are spending, and take a part with them. This does not take away the tools of a man's business, or the necessary utensils of this family: It only comes in when he is taking his pleasure, and feels generous."source: Connecticut Ratifying Conventionmethod of taxing, taxes, business, econmonics, taxation on spending
Elbridge Gerry:"All monies to be raised for supplying the public treasury by direct taxation shall be assessed on the inhabitants of the several states according to the number of their representatives respectively in the first branch, [...] according to the general principle that taxation and representation ought to go together."source: Ibid., p. 246taxation without representation, taxation on population, taxes, fairness
Charles Pinckney:"The values of land had been found, on full investigation, to be an impracticable rule. The contributions of revenue, including imports and exports, must be too changeable in their amount; too difficult to be adjusted; and too injurious to the non-commercial states. The number of inhabitants appeared to him the only just and practicable rule."source: Ibid., p. 215.taxation on land value, direct taxation, taxes, property, taxation by population
James Madison:"I go on the principle that public debt is a public curse."source: Letter to Henry Lee, April 13, 1790.debt, deficit, spending
Alexander Hamilton:"Congress have but one exclusive right in taxation—that of duties on imports; certainly, then, their other powers are only concurrent."source: Elliot, 2:355tax, taxation, import, imports, power to tax, powers of congress
Thomas Jefferson:"I am for a government rigorously frugal & simple, applying all the possible savings of the public revenue to the discharge of the national debt; and not for a multiplication of officers & salaries merely to make partisans, & for increasing, by every device, the public debt, on the principle of its being a public blessing."source: Letter to Elbridge Gerry, January 26, 1799.government spending, debt, frugality, deficit, revenue, corruption
George Washington:"Against the insidious wiles of foreign influence ... the jealousy of a free people ought to be constantly awake; since history and experience prove that foreign influence is one of the most baneful foes of republican government."source: Farewell Address, September 17, 1796.foreign influence, foreign affairs, jealousy, freedom, history, republic, on the dangers of too close of unions
George Washington:"To contract new debts is not the way to pay old ones."source: George Washington, To James Welch, April 7, 1799.debt, deficit, spending, credit, wisdom, thrift
Thomas Jefferson:"We must not let our rulers load us with perpetual debt."source: Letter to Samuel Kercheval, July 12, 1816.debt, deficit, spending
Thomas Jefferson:"I sincerely believe that banking establishments are more dangerous than standing armies, and that the principle of spending money to be paid by posterity, under the name of funding, is but swindling futurity on a large scale."source: To William Plumer, July 21, 1816.banks, finances, funding, corruption, federal reserve, debt, deficit
Thomas Jefferson:"It is incumbent on every generation to pay its own debts as it goes--a principle which, if acted on, would save one-half the wars of the world."source: Letter to Destutt Tracy, 1820.fiscal responsibility, debt, finances, responsibility, deficit, integrity
John Dickinson:"Kings or parliaments could not give the rights essential to happiness. ... We claim them from a higher source--from the King of kings, and Lord of all the earth. They are not annexed to us by parchments and seals. They are created in us by the decrees of Providence ... It would be an insult on the divine Majesty to say, that he has given or allowed any man or body of men a right to make me miserable. If no man or body of men has such a right, I have a right to be happy. If there can be no happiness without freedom, I have a right to be free. If I cannot enjoy freedom without security of property, I have a right to be thus secured. "source: Reply to a Committee in Barbados, 1766happiness, undeniable rights, liberty, freedom, God, security of property, misery, parliament
Noah Webster:"Before a standing army can rule, the people must be disarmed; as they are in almost every kingdom of Europe. The supreme power in America cannot enforce unjust laws by the sword; because the whole body of the people are armed, and constitute a force superior to any band of regular troops that can be, on any pretence, raised in the United States."source: An Examination of the Leading Principles of the Federal Constitution.arms, the right to bear arms, weapons, defense, power of the people
George Mason:"Now all acts of legislature apparently contrary to natural right and justice, are, in our laws, and must be in the nature of things considered as void. The laws of nature are the laws of God; whose authority can be superseded by no power on earth. A legislature must not obstruct our obedience to him from whose punishments they cannot protect us."source: Robin v. Hardaway, 1772.natural law, balance of powers, legislature
John Dickinson:"The all wise Creator of man imprest certain laws on his nature. A desire of happiness, and of society, are two of those laws. They were not intended to destroy, but to support each other. Man has therefore a right to promote the best union of both, in order to enjoy both in the highest degree. Thus, while this right is properly exercised, desires, that seem selfish, by a happy combination, produce the welfare of others."source: Political Writings, 1774.happiness, natural law, balance in the government, welfare
Thomas Jefferson:"No man has a natural right to commit aggression on the equal rights of another, and this is all from which the laws ought to restrict him; every man is under the natural duty of contributing to the necessities of society, and this is all the laws should enforce on him and no man having a natural right to be the judge between himself and another, it is his natural duty to submit to the umpirage of an impartial third."source: Letter to F. W. Gilmor, 1816.natural law, rights, freedoms, society
Rev. Jonathan Mayhew:"To a generous mind, the public good, as it is the end of government, so it is also such a noble and excellent one, that the prospect of attaining it will animate the pursuit, and being attained, it will reward the pains. The very name of patriotism is indeed become a jest with some men; which would be much stranger than it is, had not so many others made a jest of the thing, serving their own base and wicked ends, under the pretext and colour of it. But there will be hypocrites in politicks, as well as in religion. Nor ought so sacred a name to fall into contempt, however it may have been prostituted & profaned, to varnish over crimes. And those times are perilous indeed, wherein men shall be only lover of their own selves, having no concern for the good of the public. Shall we go to the pagans to learn this god-like virtue? Even they can teach it. ... [A Christian lacking patriotism] ... would be a reporach not only to his religion, a religion of charity and beneficence, but even to our own common nature, as corrupt and depraved as it is. But how much more infamous were this, in persons of public character? in those, on whom the welfare of their country, under providence, immediately depends?"source: Election sermon, 1754.patriotism, hypocrites, politics, christianity
Samuel Adams:"The true patriot therefore, will enquire into the causes of the fears and jealousies of his countrymen; and if he finds they are not groundless, he will be far from endeavoring to allay or stifle them: On the contrary, constrain'd by the Amor Patriae and from public views, he will by all proper means in his power foment and cherish them: He will, as far as he is able, keep the attention of this fellow citizens awake to their grievances; and not suffer them to be at rest, till the causes of their just complaints are removed. --At such a time Philanthrop's Patriot [a King's man] may be "very cautious of charging the want of ability or integrity to those with whom any of the powers of government are entrusted": But the true patriot, will constantly be jealous of those very men: Knowing that power, especially in times of corruption, makes men wanton; that it intoxicates the mind; and unless those with whom it is entrusted, are carefully watched, such is the weakness or the perverseness of human nature, they will be apt to domineer over the people, instead of governing them, according to the known laws of the state, to which alone they have submitted. If he finds, upon the best enquiry, the want of ability or integrity; that is, an ignorance of, or a disposition to depart from, the constitution, which is the measure and rule of government & submission, he will point them out, and loudly proclaim them: He will stir up the people, incessantly to complain of such men, till they are either reform'd, or remov'd from that sacred trust, which it is dangerous for them any longer to hold. "source: Essay in the Boston Gazette, 1771.patriotism, truth, corruption, power, power of free speech, removal from office
Thomas Jefferson:"I think with you, that it is a good world on the whole; that it has been framed on a principle of benevolence, and more pleasure than pain dealt out to us. There are, indeed, (who might say nay) gloomy and hypochondriac minds, inhabitants of diseased bodies, disgusted with the present, and despairing of the future; always counting that the worst will happen, because it may happen. To these I say, how much pain have cost us the evils which have never happened! My temperament is sanguine. I steer my bark with Hope in the head, leaving Fear in the stern. My hopes, indeed somtimes fail; but not oftener than the forebodings of the gloomy. There are, some terrible convulsions, heavy setoffs against the opposite page of the account."source: To John Adams, April 1816.pessimism, optimism, hope, determination, having a positive outlook, the secret
George Washington:"It should be the highest ambition of every American to extend his views beyond himself, and to bear in mind that his conduct will not only affect himself, his country, and his immediate posterity; but that its influence may be co-extensive with the world, and stamp political happiness or misery on ages yet unborn."source: To the legislature of Pennsylvania, September 5, 1789.posterity, ambition, selfless-ness
Gouverneur Morris:"The reflection and experience of many years have led me to consider the holy writings not only as the most authentic and instructive in themselves, but as the clue to all other history. They tell us what man is, and they alone tell us why he is what he is: a contradictory creature that seeing and approving of what is good, pursues and performs what is evil. All of private and public life is there displayed. ... From the same pure fountain of wisdom we learn that vice destroys freedom; that arbitrary power is founded on public immorality."source: Collections of the New York historical Society for the Year 1821", (New York: E. Bliss and E. White, 1821), p. 30, from "An Inaugural Discourse Delivered Before the New York Historical Society byt the Honorable Gouverneur Morris", September 4, 1816Public morality, morality, Public Virtue, Separation of Church and State
Gouverneur Morris:"For avoiding the extremes of despotism or anarchy ... the only ground of hope must be on the morals of the people. I believe that religion is the only solid base of morals and that morals are the only possible support of free governments."source: "A Diary of the French Revolution", (Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1939), Vol. II, p. 172, April 29, 1791; Vol. II, p. 452, to Lord George Gordon, June 28, 1792Religion, Morals, Freedom, avoid despotism, avoid anarchy
Noah Webster:"In democracy . . . there are commonly tumults and disorders. . . Therefore a pure democracy is generally a very bad government. It is often the most tyrannical government on earth."source: (Boston: Isaiah Thomas and Ebenezer T. Andrews, 1801), pp. 103-104.Democracy, Bad Government, anarchy
Elias Boudinot, LL.D.:"Let us enter on this important business under the idea that we are Christians on whom the eyes of the world are now turned. ... Let us in the first place ... humbly and penitently implore the aid of the Almighty God whom we profess to serve - let us earnestly call and beseech him for Chirst's sake to preside in our councils."source: "The Life and Public Services, and letters of Elias Boudinot, LL.D., President of the Continental Congress", J.J. Boudinot, ed. (Boston and New York: Houghton, Mifflin, and Co., 1896), Vol. 1, pp. 18-19Christianity, U.S. - Christian Nation, Separation of Church and State
John Quincy Adams:"Why is it that next to the birthday of the Savior of the World, your most joyous and most venerated festival returns on this day [the 4th of July]? Is is not that, in the chain of human events, the birthday of the nation is indissolubly linked with the birthday of the Savior? That it forms a leading event in the progress of the gospel dispensation? Is it not that the Declaration of Independence first organized the social compact on the foundation of the Redeemer's mission upon earth? That is laid the cornerstone of human government upon the first precepts of Christianity?"source: "An Oration Delivered Before the Inhabitants of the Town of Newburyport at their Request on the Sixty-First Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence", July 4, 1837, (Newburyport: Charles Whipple, 1837), p. 5Christianity, U.S. - Christian Nation, Separation of Church and State
John Adams:"The general principles on which the fathers achieved independence were ... the general principles of Christianity. ... I will avow that I then believed, and now believe, that those general principles of Christianity are as eternal and immutable as the existence and attributes of God."source: "The Writings of Thomas Jefferson", (Washington D.C.: The Thomas Jefferson Memorial Association, 1904), Vol. XIII, P. 292-294. In a letter from John Adams to Thomas Jefferson on June 28, 1813Christianity, U.S. - Christian Nation, Separation of Church and State
James Madison:"A watchful eye must be kept on ourselves, lest while we are building ideal monuments of renown and bliss here, we neglect to have our names enrolled in the annals of Heaven."source: To William Bradford, November 9, 1772priorities, God, religion
Thomas Jefferson:"It is incumbent on every generation to pay it’s own debts as it goes. a principle which, if acted on, wou [ld] save one half the wars of the world; and justifies, I think our present circumspection."source: This is genuine, from a letter to Antoine Louis Claude Destutt de Tracy of 26 December 1820:Debt, fiscal discipline, balanced budget
Thomas Paine:"Rights are not gifts from one man to another, nor from one class of men to another; for who is he who could be the first giver, or by what principle, or on what authority could he possess the right of giving?"source: Dissertation on First Principles of Government, 1795Rights,
Thomas Jefferson:"The spirit of resistance to government is so valuable on certain occasions, that I wish it to be always kept alive. It will often be exercised when wrong, but better so than not to be exercised at all. I like a little rebellion now and then. It is like a storm in the atmosphere."source: The Thomas Jefferson Papers Series 1. General Correspondence. 1651-1827 Thomas Jefferson to Abigail Smith Adams, February 22, 1787 http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.mss/mtj.mtjbib002565resistance, government
George Washington:"The propitious smiles of Heaven can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right which Heaven itself has ordained."source: George Washington's First Inaugural Address - 1789Heaven
Benjamin Franklin:"I therefore beg leave to move that henceforth prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven, and its blessing on our deliberations, be held in this Assembly every morning...."source: Constitutional Convention - 1787prayer, heaven
James Madison:"The President is made too dependent already on the legislature by the power of one branch to try him in consequence of an impeachment by the other. This intermediate suspension will put him in the power of one branch only. They can at any moment, in order to make way for the functions of another who will be more favorable to their views, vote a temporary removal of the existing magistrate."source: Madison, p. 561impeachment, corruption, balance of power
Thomas Paine:"Whenever politics are applied to debauch mankind from their integrity, and dissolve the virtue of human nature, they become detestable; and to be a statesman on this plan, is to be a commissioned villain. He who aims at it, leaves a vacancy in his character, which may be filled up with the worst of epithets."source: To the Abbe Raynal, 1782politics, debauch, integrity, virtue, human nature, destestable, statesman, villian, character
Samuel Adams:"The liberties of our country, the freedom of our civil constitution, are worth defending at all hazards; and it is our duty to defend them against all attacks. We have received them as a fair inheritance from our worthy ancestors: they purchased them for us with toil and danger and expense of treasure and blood, and transmitted them to us with care and diligence. It will bring an everlasting mark of infamy on the present generation, enlightened as it is , if we should suffer them to be wrested from us by violence without a struggle, or be cheated out of them by the artifices of false and designing men."source: Article in the Boston Gazette, October 14, 1771.freedom, duty, preservation of rights
James Madison:"This belief in a God All Powerful wise and good, is so essential to the moral order of the world and to the happiness of man, that arguments which enforce it cannot be drawn from too many sources nor adapted with too much solicitude to the different characters and capacities to be impressed with it. ... This finiteness of the Human understanding betrays itself on all subjects, but more especially when it contemplates such as involve infinity. What may safely be said seems to be, that the infinity of time and space forces itself on our conception, a limitation of either being inconceivable: that the mind prefers at once the idea of a self existing cause to that of an infinite series of cause and effect, which arguments, instead of avoiding the difficulty: and that it finds more facility in assenting to the self existence of an invisible cause possessing infinite power, wisdom and goodness, than to the self existence of the universe, visibly destitute of those attributes, and which may be the effect of them."source: To Frederick Beasley, November 29, 1825.God, providence, wisdom, eternity, infinity, man's mere existence
George Washington:"Happiness depends more upon the internal frame of a person's own mind than on the externals in the world."source: To Mary Washington, February 15, 1787.happiness, mind over matter, determination, circumstance
Thomas Jefferson:"Our greatest happiness ... does not depend on the condition of life in which chance has placed us, but is always the result of a good conscience, good health, occupation and freedom in all just pursuits."source: "Notes on Virginia" 1782.happiness, condition, health care, freedom, occupation, chance, circumstance, handouts
Thomas Paine:"A too great inattention to past occurrences retards and bewilders our judgment in every thing; while, on the contrary, by comparing what is past with what is present, we frequently hit on the true character of both, and become wise with very little trouble. It is a kind of countermarch, by which we get into the rear of time, and mark the movements and meanings of things as we make our return."source: The Crisis, 1777.history, education, wisdom, awareness
Samuel Adams:"No people will tamely surrender their Liberties, nor can any be easily subdued, when knowledge is diffused and Virtue is preserved. On the Contrary, when People are universally ignorant, and debauched in their Manners, they will sink under their own weight without the aid of foreign invaders."source: To James Warren, 1775.ignorance, freedom, knowledge, downfall of society, liberty
John Marshall:"It is emphatically the province and duty of the judicial department to say what the law is. ... If two laws conflict with each other, the courts must decide on the operation of each. ... this is of the very essence of judicial duty."source: Marbury v. Madison, 1803.judicial branch, fair and balanced, balance of powers, conflict resolution
Thomas Paine:"All men are Republicans by nature and Royalists only by fashion. And this is fully proved by that passionate adoration, which all men show to that great and almost only remaining bulwark of natural rights, trial by juries, which is founded on a pure Republican basis. Here the power of Kings is shut out. No Royal negative can enter this Court. The Jury, which is here, supreme, is a Republic, a body of Judges chosen from among the people."source: The Forester's Letters, 1776.jury duty, republic, representatives, freedom, justice, monarchy
Thomas Paine:"But where says some is the King of America? I'll tell you Friend, he reigns above, and doth not make havoc of mankind like the Royal Brute of Britain. ... let it be brought forth placed on the divine law, the word of God; let a crown be placed thereon, by which the world may know, that so far as we approve of monarchy, that in America THE LAW IS KING."source: Common Sense, 1776.kings, kingdoms, religion, god, law, justice
Thomas Jefferson:"It would be a blessing to mankind if God would never give a genius without principle; and in like manner would be a happiness to society if none but honest men would be suffered to be lawyers. The wretch who will write on any subject for bread, or in any service for pay, and he who will plead in any case for a fee, stands equally in rank with the prostitute who lets our her person."source: A Serious Address to the People of Pennsylvania, 1778.lawyers, justice, integrity
George Washington:"That no man should scruple, or hesitate a moment to use arms in defence of so valuable a blessing [as liberty], on which all the good and evil of life depends, is clearly my opinion. Yet arms ... should be the last resort."source: To George Mason, April 5, 1769.liberty, defence, tyranny, right to bear arms
Benjamin Franklin:"God grant, that not only the Love of Liberty, but a thorough Knowledge of the Rights of Man, may pervade all the Nations of the Earth, so that a Philosopher may set his Foot anywhere on its Surface, and say, "This is my Country."source: Letter to David Hartley, December 4, 1789.liberty, knowledge, constitution, bill of rights, education
James Madison:"In governments, where the will of the people prevails, the danger of injustice arises from the interest, real or supposed, which a majority may have in trespassing on that of the minority."source: To Thomas Cooper, March 23, 1824.government, majorities, minorities, injustice
Thomas Paine:"The domestic tranquility of a nation, depends greatly, on the chastity of what may properly be called national manners."source: Common Sense, 1776.manners, chastity, success, peace, prosperity
George Mason:"He would, if interrogated, be obliged to declare that his political opinions at the age of twenty-one were too crude and erroneous to merit an influence on public measures. It had been said that Congress had proved a good school for our young men. It might be so, for anything he knew; but if it were, he chose that they should bear the expense of their own education."source: Madison, p. 149maturity, representative, accountability, responsibility, election
William Penn:"An husband and wife that love and value on another, show their children and servants, that they should do so too. Others visibly lose their authority in their families, by their contempt of one another: and teach their children to be unnatural by their own examples."source: Some Fruits of Solitude, 1693.marriage, union, example, love, parents and children, authority
Thomas Paine:"Were a man to be totally deprived of memory, he would be incapable of forming any just opinion; every thing about him would seem a chaos; he would have even his own history to ask from every one; and by not knowing how the world went on in his absence, he would be at a loss to know how it ought to be on when he recovered, or rather, returned to it again."source: The Crisis, 1777.memory, memory loss, history, mental illness
William Johnson:"The controversy must be endless whilst gentlemen differ in the grounds of their arguments; those on one side considering the states as districts of people composing one political society; those on the other considering them as so many political societies. The fact is that the states do exist as political societies, and a government is to be formed for them in their political capacity, as well as for the individuals composing them. Does it not seem to follow that if the states, as such, are to exist, they must be armed with some power of self-defense?"source: Ibid,. pp. 182-83.representation of States, representatives apportioned to poulation
Benjamin Franklin:"The diversity of opinions turns on two points. If a proportional representation takes place, the small states contend that their liberties will be in danger. If an equality of votes is to be put in its place, the large states say their money will be in danger. When a broad table is to be made, and the edges of planks do not fit, the artist takes a little from both and makes a good joint. In like manner, here, both sides must part from some of their demands in order that they may join in some accommodating proposition."source: Ibid., p. 196.design of government, compromise, give and take
Alexander Hamilton:"The fabric of American empire ought to rest on the solid basis of the consent of the people. The streams of national power ought to flow immediately from that pure, original fountain of all legitimate authority."source: Federalist Papers, No. 22, p.152.source of power, right to authority
James Madison:"The adversaries of the Constitution seem to have lost sight of the people altogether in their reasoning on this subject; and to have viewed these different establishments not only as mutual rivals and enemies, but as uncontrolled by any common superior in their efforts to usurp the authorities of each other. These gentlemen must here be reminded of their error. They must be told that the ultimate authority, wherever the derivative may be found, resides in the people alone."source: Federalist Papers, No. 46, p. 294source of authority, corruption of officials
Thomas Jefferson:"You see I am an enthusiast on the subject of the arts. But it is an enthusiasm of which I am not ashamed, as its object is to improve the taste of my countrymen, to increase their reputation, to reconcile to them the respect of the world & procure them its praise."source: To James Madison, September 20, 1785.the arts, furtherment of society, prosperity, culture
Thomas Jefferson:"In matters of religion, I have considered that its free exercise is placed by the Constitution independent of the powers of the general government. I have therefore undertaken on no occasion to prescribe the religious exercises suited to it; but have left them, as the Constitution found them, under the direction and discipline of state or church authorities acknowledged by the several religious societies."source: Bergh, Writings of Thomas Jefferson, 3:378.freedom of religion, church and state, State's rights
Thomas Jefferson:"A bill of rights is what the people are entitled to against every government on earth."source: Letter to James Madison, December 1787.bill of rights, freedom, goverment
Abigail Adams:"What is it that affectionate parents require of their Children for all their care, anxiety, and toil on their accounts? Only that they would be wise, virtuous, Benevolent and kind."source: To John Quincy Adams, November 20, 1783.parenting, children, character, benevolence
Noah Webster:"Perfection is not the lot of humanity. Instead of censuring the small faults of the constitution, I am astonished, that so many clashing interests have been reconciled--and so many sacrifices made to the general interest! The mutual concessions made by the gentlemen of the convention, reflect the highest honor on their cando and liberality; at the same time, they prove that their minds were deeply impressed with a conviction, that such mutual sacrifices are essential to our union."source: An Examination into the Leading Principles of the Federal Constitution, Philadelphia, October 17, 1787.constitution, perfection, sacrifice, public interest, unity
James Monroe:"Attacks on me will do no harm, and silent contempt is the best answer to them."source: To George Hay, April 29, 1808.personal attacks, retaliation, anger management, brotherly kindless
Nathanael Greene:"The infant mind is pregnant with a variety of passions; But I apprehend it is in the power of those who are entrusted with the education of youth in a considerable degree to determine the bent of the noble passions and to fix them on salutary objects, or let them loose to such as are pernicious or destructive. Here then lies the foundation of civil liberty; in forming the habits of the youthful mind, in forwarding every passion that may tend to the promotion of the happiness of the community, in fixing in ourselves right ideas of benevolence, humanity, integrity and truth."source: To Samuel Ward Jr., 1771.education, children, humanity, benevolence, integrity, truth, liberty, educators
Thomas Jefferson:"The foundation on which all [our constitutions] are built is the natural equality of man, the denial of every preeminence but that annexed to legal office, and particularly the denial of a preeminence by birth."source: Letter to George Washington, 1784.equality, royality, common man, foundation of our nation, class
James Madison:"The real wonder is that so many difficulties should have been surmounted... with a unanimity almost as unprecedented as it must have been unexpected. It is impossible for any man of candor to reflect on this circumstance without partaking of the astonishment. It is impossible for the man of pious reflection not to perceive in it a finger of that Almighty hand which has been so frequently and signally extended to our relief in the critical stages of the revolution."source: Federalist Papers, No. 37, pp. 230-31.providence, God, beliefs of the Founders, revolutionary war, ponder, overcoming challenges
Alexander Hamilton:"Some of the consequences of a dissolution of the Union, and the establishment of partial confederacies had been pointed out. He would add another of a most serious nature. Alliances will immediately be formed with different rival and hostile nations of Europe, who will foment disturbances among ourselves and make us parties to all their own quarrels. Foreign nations having American dominion are, and must be, jealous of us. Their representatives betray the utmost anxiety for our fate, and for the result of this meeting, which must have an essential influence on it. It had been said that respectability in the eyes of foreign nations was not the object at which we aimed; that the proper object of republican government was domestic tranquility and happiness. This was an ideal distinction. No government could give us tranquility and happiness at home which did not possess sufficient stability and strength to make us respectable abroad."source: Madison, p. 64foregin policy, establishment of country, constitutional convention, peace, foreign government, foreign nations
George Mason:"From the nature of man, we may be sure that those who have power in their hands will not give it up while they can retain it. On the contrary, we know that they will always, when they can, rather increase it."source: Madison, p.232power, corruption, maintaining power, tendency of man, dominance, hypocricy
Patrick Henry:"Show me that age and country where the rights and liberties of the people were placed on the sole chance of their rulers being good men, without a consequent loss of liberty! I say that the loss of that dearest privilege has ever followed, with absolute certainty, every such mad attempt."source: Elliot, 3:59loss of freedom, rights, dependency, watchfulness, checks and balances, entrust
Thomas Jefferson:"I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around [the banks] will deprive the people of all property until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered. The issuing power should be taken from the banks and restored to the people, to whom it properly belongs."source: www.quotationspage.combanking, federal reserve bank, banking institutions, liberties, private banks, currency, inflation, deflation
John Adams:"A constitution founded on these principles introduces knowledge among the people, and inspires them with a conscious dignity becoming freemen; a general emulation takes place, which causes good humor, sociability, good manners, and good morals to be general. That elevation of sentiment inspired by such a government, makes the common people brave and enterprising. That ambition which is inspired by it makes them sober, industrious, and frugal."source: Thoughts on Government, 1776principles, ambition, freemen
James Iredell:"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."source: Elliot, 4:130amendment, constitutional convention, secret combination, retention of liberties, power of the people
Samuel Adams:"I thank God that I have lived to see my country independent and free. She may long enjoy her independence and freedom if she will. It depends on her virtue."source: Wells, Life of Samuel Adams, 3:175virtue and freedom, choice, requirements of a free people
James Madison:"If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary."source: Federalist Papers, No. 51, p.322governance of men, disposition to corruption
George Washington:"For heaven's sake, who are Congress? Are they not the creatures of the people, amenable to them for their conduct and dependent from day to day on their breath?"source: To William Gordon, July 8, 1783role of congressmen, power of people, congressional responsibility
James Madison:"Taxes on consumption are always least burdensome, because they are least felt, and are borne too by those who are both willing and able to pay them; that of all taxes on consumption, those on foreign commerce are most compatible with the genius and policy of free states."source: Address to the States, April 25, 1783.method of taxing, taxes

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