To look for a continuation in harmony between a number of independent unconnected sovereignties, situated in the same neighborhood, would be to disregard the uniform course of human events, and to set at defiance the accumulated experience of ages.

Tyranny has perhaps oftener grown out of the assumptions of power, called for, on pressing exigencies, by a defective constitution, than out of the full exercise of the largest constitutional authorities.

Nothing is more natural to men in office, than to look with peculiar deference towards that authority to which they owe their official existence.

Let experience, the least fallible guide of human opinion, be appealed to for an answer to these inquiries.

Every individual of the community at large has an equal right to the protection of government.

Has it not. . . invariably been found that momentary passions, and immediate interests, have a more active and imperious control over human conduct than general or remote considerations of policy, utility and justice?

I propose . . . . The conformity of the proposed Constitution to the true principles of republican government.