Category Archives: First Principles

First Principles: The Powers of the General Government Will Be, and Indeed Must Be, Principally Employed Upon External Objects, Such As War

Posted on July 7, 2022 by alohapromisesforever

“The powers of the general government will be, and indeed must be, principally employed upon external objects, such as war, peace, negotiations with foreign powers, and foreign commerce.” – Joseph Story (1833)

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Employed, External Objects, First Principles, Foreign Commerce, Foreign Powers, General Government, Negotiations, Peace, Powers, Principal, War | Leave a comment

First Principles: The Consciousness of Having Discharged That Duty Which We Owe To Our Country Is Superior To All Other Considerations

Posted on July 6, 2022 by alohapromisesforever

“The consciousness of having discharged that duty which we owe to our country is superior to all other considerations.” – George Washington (1788)

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Consciousness, Considerations, Discharge, Duty, First Principles, George Washington, Superior | Leave a comment

First Principles: Be Courteous To All, But Intimate With Few, and Let Those Few Be Well Tried Before You Give Them Your Confidence

Posted on July 5, 2022 by alohapromisesforever

“Be courteous to all, but intimate with few, and let those few be well tried before you give them your confidence; true friendship is a plant of slow growth, and must undergo and withstand the shocks and adversity before it … Continue reading →

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Appellation, Confidence, Courteous, Few, First Principles, George Washington, Intimate, Plant, Shocks and Adversity, Slow Growth, True Friendship, Well Tried | Leave a comment

First Principles: God Who Gave Us Life Gave Us Liberty

Posted on July 4, 2022 by alohapromisesforever

“God who gave us life gave us Liberty. Can the liberties of a nation be secure when we have removed a conviction that these liberties are the gift of God? Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that … Continue reading →

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Conviction, Country, First Principles, Gift of God, God, God Is Just, Liberty, Life, Nation, Sleep, Thomas Jefferson, Tremble | Leave a comment

First Principles: Love Your Neighbor As Yourself and Your Country More Than Yourself

Posted on July 3, 2022 by alohapromisesforever

“Love your neighbor as yourself and your country more than yourself.” – Thomas Jefferson (1825)

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Adore, Bliss, Cherish, Eternal, First Principles, God, Just, Life, Love, Murmur, Neigbbor, Parents, Portal, Providence, Reverence, Thomas Jefferson, True, Your Country, Yourself | Leave a comment

First Principles: Of All the Dispositions and Habits Which Lead to Political Prosperity, Religion and Morality Are Indispensable Supports

Posted on July 2, 2022 by alohapromisesforever

“Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, Religion and morality are indispensible supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of Patriotism who should labor to subvert these great Pillars of human happiness — these … Continue reading →

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Dispositions and Habits, Duties of Men and Citizens, First Principles, George Washington, Human Happiness, Oath, Patriotism, Pillars, Political Prosperity, Property, Religion and Morality, Religious Obligation, Reputation, Security, Support, Vain | Leave a comment

First Principles: There Are More Instances of the Abridgment of the Freedom of the People By Gradual and Silent Encroachments of Those In Power Than by Violent and Sudden Usurpations

Posted on July 1, 2022 by alohapromisesforever

“There are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations.” – James Madison (1788)

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Abridgment, Encroachments, First Principles, Freedom, Gradual and Silent, Instances, James Madison, Power, The People, Usurpations, Violent and Sudden | Leave a comment

First Principles: To Prevent Crimes, Is the Noblest End and Aim of Criminal Jurisprudence

Posted on June 30, 2022 by alohapromisesforever

“To prevent crimes, is the noblest end and aim of criminal jurisprudence. To punish them, is one of the means necessary for the accomplishment of this noble end and aim.” – James Wilson (1790)

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Accomplishment, Crimes, Criminal Jurisprudence, First Principles, James Wilson, Noblest End, Prevent, Punish | Leave a comment

First Principles: A Sacred Respect For the Constitutional Law Is the Vital Principle, the Sustaining Energy of A Free Government

Posted on June 29, 2022 by alohapromisesforever

“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. … Continue reading →

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Alexander Hamilton, Answer, Asked, Constitution and Laws, Constitutional Law, Energy, First Princioples, Free Government, Republic, Respect, Sacred Duty, Security, Vital Principle | Leave a comment

First Principles: On Every Question of Construction Carry Ourselves Back To the Time When the Constitution Was Adopted, Recollect the Spirit Manifested In the Debates

Posted on June 28, 2022 by alohapromisesforever

“On every question of construction carry ourselves back to the time when the Constitution was adopted, recollect the spirit manifested in the debates and instead of trying what meaning may be squeezed out of the text or invented against it, … Continue reading →

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Adopted, Conform, Constitution, Debates, First Principles, Invested, Meaning, Passed, Probable, Question of Construction, Spirit Manifested, Squeezed, Text, Thomas Jefferson, Time | Leave a comment