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Washington,
George, VA
If men are to be precluded
from offering their sentiments on a matter which may involve the most serious
and alarming consequences that can invite the consideration of mankind,
reason is of no use; the freedom of speech may be taken away, and dumb and
silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter.
Franklin,
Benjamin, PA
"They
that can give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety,
deserve neither liberty nor safety."
Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch.
Madison,
James, VA
In the
extent and proper structure of the Union, therefore, we behold a republican
remedy for the diseases most incident to republican government. And according
to the degree of pleasure and pride we feel in being republicans, ought to be
our zeal in cherishing the spirit and supporting the character of
Federalists.
Where an excess of power prevails, property of no sort is
duly respected. No man is safe in his opinions, his person, his faculties, or
his possessions.
We are right to take alarm at the first experiment upon our
liberties.
There is no maxim, in my opinion, which is more liable to be
misapplied, and which, therefore, more needs elucidation, than the current
one, that the interest of the majority is the political standard of right and
wrong.
The people are the only legitimate fountain of power, and it
is from them that the constitutional charter, under which the several
branches of government hold their power, is derived.
The Constitution preserves the advantage of being armed
which Americans possess over the people of almost every other nation where
the governments are afraid to trust the people with arms.
This was the only defence agst. the inconveniencies of democracy consistent
with the democratic form of Govt. All civilized Societies would be divided
into different Sects, Factions, & interests, as they happened to consist
of rich & poor, debtors & creditors, the landed, the manufacturing,
the commercial interests, the inhabitants of this district or that district,
the followers of this political leader or that political leader, the
disciples of this religious Sect or that religious Sect. In all cases where a
majority are united by a common interest or passion, the rights of the
minority are in danger. What motives are to restrain them?
Hamilton,
Alexander, NY
It has
been observed that a pure democracy if it were practicable would be the most
perfect government. Experience has proved that no position is more false than
this. The ancient democracies in which the people themselves deliberated
never possessed one good feature of government. Their very character was
tyranny; their figure deformity.
Morris,
Gouverneur, PA
Our
Democrats are split... between those who have got into power and those who
are getting into power on the shoulders of the mob. By this word mob, I
mean not so much as the indigent as the vicious, hot-headed, and inconsiderate
part of the community, together with that numerous host of tools which knaves
do work with called fools. These folks are the majority of all empires,
kingdoms, and commonwealths, and, of course, when not restrained by political
institutions or coerced by an armed force, possess the efficient power.
And as power so possessed must needs be abused, it follows, in direct
consequence, that the affairs of democracy will ever be in the hands of weak
and wicked men, unless when distress or danger shall compel a reluctant
people to choose wise and virtuous administration.
(the
diaries and letters of GouverneurMorris II 1888)
Morris,
Robert, PA
Wilson, James, PA
Pinckney,
Chas. Cotesworth, SC
Pinckney,
Chas, SC
Rutledge,
John, SC
Butler, Pierce,
SC
Sherman, Roger, CT
Johnson, William Samuel, CT
McHenry, James, MD
Read, George, DE
Bassett, Richard, DE
Spaight, Richard Dobbs, NC
Blount, William, NC
Williamson, Hugh, NC
Jenifer, Daniel of St. Thomas, MD
King, Rufus, MA
Gorham, Nathaniel, MA
Dayton, Jonathan, NJ
Carroll, Daniel, MD
Few, William, GA
Baldwin, Abraham, GA
Langdon, John, NH
Gilman, Nicholas, NH
Livingston, William, NJ
Paterson, William, NJ
Mifflin, Thomas, PA
Clymer, George, PA
FitzSimons, Thomas, PA
Ingersoll, Jared, PA
Bedford, Gunning, Jr., DE
Brearley, David, NJ
Dickinson, John, DE
Blair, John, VA
Broom, Jacob, DE
Jackson, William, Secretary
Other Quotes from men of that day:
John Adams:
"Remember
democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself.
There never was a democracy yet that did not commit suicide."
Thomas
Jefferson:
"The majority, oppressing an individual, is guilty of a crime, abuses
its strength, and by acting on the law of the strongest breaks up the
foundations of society."
"[The purpose of a written constitution is] to bind up the several
branches of government by certain laws, which, when they transgress, their
acts shall become nullities; to render unnecessary an appeal to the people,
or in other words a rebellion, on every infraction of their rights, on the
peril that their acquiescence shall be construed into an intention to
surrender those rights."
"There is
nothing which I dread so much as a division of the republic into two great
parties, each arranged under it leader, and concerting measures in opposition
to each other. This, in my humble opinion, is to be dreaded as the greatest
political evil under our Constitution."
Edmund
Randolph:
"Our
chief danger arises from the democratic parts of our [state] constitutions .
. . .None of the constitutions have provided sufficient checks against the
democracy."
Do you know of a good quote: Please post it here.
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