Jefferson on A popular Government, without popular information

The Patriot Post
Founders' Quote Daily

"A popular Government, without popular information, or the means
of acquiring it, is but a Prologue to a Farce or a Tragedy; or,
perhaps both. Knowledge will forever govern ignorance: And a
people who mean to be their own Governors, must arm themselves
with the power which knowledge gives."

-- James Madison (letter to W.T. Barry, 4 August 1822)

Reference: Letters and other Writings of James Madison, vol. 3
(276)

Franklin on Freedom of Speech

The Patriot Post
Founders' Quote Daily

"Without Freedom of Thought there can be no such Thing as Wisdom;
and no such Thing as Public Liberty, without Freedom of Speech."

-- Benjamin Franklin (writing as Silence Dogood, No. 8, 9 July
1722)

Reference: The Papers of Benjamin Franklin, Labaree, ed., vol. 1
(27)

The U.S. Senate - 1787

The Patriot Post
Founders' Quote Daily

"As our president bears no resemblance to a king so we shall
see the Senate has no similitude to nobles.  First, not being
hereditary, their collective knowledge, wisdom, and virtue are
not precarious.  For by these qualities alone are they to obtain
their offices, and they will have none of the peculiar qualities
and vices of those men who possess power merely because their
father held it before them."

-- Tench Coxe (An American Citizen, No.2, 28 September 1787)

Reference: Independent Gazeteer,

J. Story - State Government - 1833

The Patriot Post
Founders' Quote Daily

"The state governments have a full superintendence and control over
the immense mass of local interests of their respective states,
which connect themselves with the feelings, the affections,
the municipal institutions, and the internal arrangements of the
whole population. They possess, too, the immediate administration
of justice in all cases, civil and criminal, which concern the
property, personal rights, and peaceful pursuits of their own
citizens."

-- Joseph Story (Commentaries on the Constitution, 1833)

Reference: Story, Commentaries on the Constitution, 191.

Madison on Government - 1794

The Patriot Post
Founders' Quote Daily

"[T]he government of the United States is a definite government,
confined to specified objects. It is not like the state
governments, whose powers are more general. Charity is no part
of the legislative duty of the government."

-- James Madison (speech in the House of Representatives, 10
January 1794)

Reference: Elliot's Debates,

A Free People and the Law - Jefferson, 1774

The Patriot Post
Founders' Quote Daily

"A free people [claim] their rights as derived from the laws of
nature, and not as the gift of their chief magistrate."

-- Thomas Jefferson (Rights of British America, 1774)

Reference: The Writings of Thomas Jefferson, Lipscomb and Bergh,
eds., 1:209.

Branches of Government - J.Story, 1833

The Patriot Post
Founders' Quote Daily

"So that the executive and legislative branches of the national
government depend upon, and emanate from the states. Every
where the state sovereignties are represented; and the national
sovereignty, as such, has no representation."

-- Joseph Story (Commentaries on the Constitution, 1833)

Reference: Story, Commentaries on the Constitution, 191.