“The power under the Constitution will always be in the
people. It is entrusted for certain defined purposes, and for a certain limited
period, to representatives of their own choosing; and whenever it is executed
contrary to their interest, or not agreeable to their wishes, their servants
can and undoubtedly will be recalled.” – George Washington, Letter to Bushrod
Washington, 1787.
“The Constitution is the guide, which I will never abandon.”
– George Washington, Letter to The Boston Selectmen, July 28, 1795.
“The powers delegated by the proposed Constitution to the
federal government are few and defined. Those which are to remain in the State
governments are numerous and indefinite.” – James Madison, Federalist No. 45 (1788)
“The "Federalist" may fairly enough be regarded as
the most authentic exposition of the text of the federal Constitution as
understood by the Body [Constitutional Convention] which prepared & and the
Authorities [state ratifying conventions] which accepted it.” –James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, February 8, 1825.
“I consider the foundation of the Constitution as laid on
this ground: That "all powers not delegated to the United States, by the
Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States or
to the people." To take a single step beyond the boundaries thus specially
drawn around the powers of Congress, is to take possession of a boundless field
of power, no longer susceptible of any definition.” – Thomas Jefferson, Opinion
against the constitutionality of a National Bank (1791).
“I know no safe depository of the ultimate powers of the
society but the people themselves; and if we think them not enlightened enough
to exercise their control with wholesome discretion, the remedy is not to take
it from them, but to inform their discretion by education. This is the true
corrective of abuses of constitutional power.” –Thomas Jefferson, Letter to William
Charles Jarvis, September 28, 1820.
"Though written constitutions may be violated in
moments of passion or delusion, yet they furnish a text to which those who are
watchful may again rally and recall the people. They fix, too, for the people the
principles of their political creed." –Thomas Jefferson to Joseph
Priestley, 1802. Writings, Memorial Edition (“ME”), 1905, 10:325.
"I am persuaded no Constitution was ever before so well
calculated as ours for extensive empire and self-government." –Thomas
Jefferson to James Madison, 1809. ME 12:277.
"If it be asked, What is the most sacred duty and the
greatest source of our security in a Republic? The answer would be, An
inviolable respect for the Constitution and Laws -- the first growing out of
the last. ... A sacred respect for the constitutional law is the vital
principle, the sustaining energy of a free government." –Alexander
Hamilton, Essay in the American Daily Advertiser, 1794.
“I propose, in a series of papers, to discuss the following
interesting particulars: ‑‑ The utility of the UNION to your political
prosperity ‑‑ The insufficiency of the present Confederation to preserve that
Union ‑‑ The necessity of a government at least equally energetic with the one
proposed, to the attainment of this object ‑‑ The conformity of the proposed Constitution to the true principles
of republican government ‑‑ Its analogy to your own State constitution ‑‑ and
lastly, The additional security which its adoption will afford the preservation
of that species of government, to liberty, and to property.” – Alexander Hamilton,
Federalist No. 1 (1788).
“I agree to this Constitution, with all its faults, if they
are such; because I think a general Government necessary for us, and there is
no form of government but what may be a blessing to the people if well
administered, and believe farther that this is likely to be well administered
for a course of years, and can only end in Despotism, as other forms have done
before it, when the people shall become so corrupted as to need despotic
Government, being incapable of any other. I doubt too whether any other
Convention we can obtain, may be able to make a better Constitution. For when
you assemble a number of men to have the advantage of their joint wisdom, you
inevitably assemble with those men, all their prejudices, their passions, their
errors of opinion, their local interests, and their selfish views. From such an
assembly can a perfect production be expected? It therefore astonishes me, Sir,
to find this system approaching so near to perfection as it does; and I think
it will astonish our enemies.” – Benjamin Franklin, Speech for Adoption of the
Constitution, September 17, 1787.
“Much of the strength & efficiency of any Government in
procuring and securing happiness to the people depends, on opinion, on the
general opinion of the goodness of the Government, as well as of the wisdom and
integrity of its Governors. I hope therefore that for our own sakes as a part
of the people, and for the sake of posterity, we shall act heartily and
unanimously in recommending this Constitution … wherever our Influence may
extend, and turn our future thoughts & endeavours to the means of having it
well administered.” – Benjamin Franklin, Id.
“We have no Government armed with Power capable of
contending with human Passions unbridled by morality and Religion. Avarice,
Ambition Revenge or Galantry, would break the strongest Cords of our
Constitution as a Whale goes through a Net. Our Constitution was made only for
a moral and religious People. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any
other.” – John Adams to the Massachusetts Militia, October 11,
1798.
“Cities may be rebuilt, and a People reduced to Poverty, may acquire fresh Property: But a Constitution of Government once changed from Freedom, can never be restored. Liberty once lost is lost forever. When the People once surrender their share in the Legislature, and their Right of defending the Limitations upon the Government, and of resisting every Encroachment upon them, they can never regain it.” – John Adams letter to Abigail Adams, July 7, 1775
“Cities may be rebuilt, and a People reduced to Poverty, may acquire fresh Property: But a Constitution of Government once changed from Freedom, can never be restored. Liberty once lost is lost forever. When the People once surrender their share in the Legislature, and their Right of defending the Limitations upon the Government, and of resisting every Encroachment upon them, they can never regain it.” – John Adams letter to Abigail Adams, July 7, 1775
“Neither the wisest constitution nor the wisest laws will secure the liberty and happiness of a people whose manners are universally corrupt. He therefore is the truest friend to the liberty of his country who tries most to promote its virtue…” – Samuel Adams, Essay published in the American Daily
Advertiser, 1848.
“The sum of all is, if we would most truly enjoy the gift of
Heaven, let us become a virtuous people; then shall we both deserve and enjoy
it. While, on the other hand, if we are universally vicious and debauched in
our manners, though the form of our Constitution carries the face of the most
exalted freedom, we shall in reality be the most abject slaves.” – Samuel Adams,
Id.
