Tag Archives: James Madison

First Principles: The Accumulation of All Powers, Legislative, Executive and Judiciary, In the Same Hands…May Justly Be Pronounced the Very Definition of Tyranny

“The accumulation of all powers, legislative, executive, and judiciary, in the same hands, whether of one, a few, or many, and whether hereditary, self-appointed, or elective, may justly be pronounced the very definition of tyranny.” – James Madison (1788)

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First Principles: Stability In Government Is Essential To National Character and To the Advantages Annexed To It, As Well As To that Repose and Confidence In the Minds of the People

“Stability in government is essential to national character and to the advantages annexed to it, as well as to that repose and confidence in the minds of the people, which are among the chief blessings of civil society.” – James … Continue reading

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First Principles: A Diffusion of Knowledge Is the Only Guardian of True Liberty

A diffusion of knowledge is the only guardian of true liberty.” -James Madison

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First Principles: If Congress Can Do Whatever In Their Discretion…Government Is No Longer A Limited One, Possessing Enumerated Powers, But an Indefinite One

“If Congress can do whatever in their discretion can be done by money, and will promote the General Welfare, the Government is no longer a limited one, possessing enumerated powers, but an indefinite one, subject to particular exceptions.” – James … Continue reading

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First Principles: What Is Government Itself but the Greatest of All Reflections on Human Nature?

“But what is government itself, but the greatest of all reflections on human nature? 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.“– James … Continue reading

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First Principles: Happily For Mankind, Liberty Is not…Confined…But Lies Within Extremes, Which Afford Sufficient Latitude For All the Variations Which May Be Required

“Happily for mankind, liberty is not, in this respect, confined to any single point of time, but lies within extremes, which afford sufficient latitude for all the variations which may be required by the various situations and circumstances of civil … Continue reading

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First Principles: An Elective Despotism Was Not the Government We Fought For

“An elective despotism was not the government we fought for; but one in which the powers of government should be so divided and balanced among the several bodies of magistracy as that no one could transcend their legal limits without … Continue reading

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First Principles: 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

“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“ – James … Continue reading

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First Principles: There Is Not A More Important and Fundamental Principle In Legislation, Than That the Ways and Means Ought Always To Face the Public Engagements; That Our Appropriations Should Ever Go Hand In Hand With Our Promises

“There is not a more important and fundamental principle in legislation, than that the ways and means ought always to face the public engagements; that our appropriations should ever go hand in hand with our promises. – James Madison, 1790

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First Principles: I Cannot Undertake To Lay My Finger On That Article of the Constitution Which Granted A Right To Congress of Expending, On Objects of Benevolence, the Money of Their Constituents…”

“I cannot undertake to lay my finger on that article of the Constitution which granted a right to Congress of expending, on objects of benevolence, the money of their constituents…” – James Madison

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