[T]here is not a syllable in the plan under consideration which directly empowers the national courts to construe the laws according to the spirit of the Constitution.

Of those men who have overturned the liberties of republics, the greatest number have begun their career by paying an obsequious court to the people, commencing demagogues and ending tyrants.

Some reasonable term ought to be allowed to enable aliens to get rid of foreign and acquire American attachments; to learn the principles and imbibe the spirit of our government; and to admit of a probability at least, of their feeling a real interest in our affairs.

The Achaeans soon experienced, as often happens, that a victorious and powerful ally is but another name for a master.

Effective resistance to usurpers is possible only provided the citizens understand their rights and are disposed to defend them.

Every power vested in a government is in its nature sovereign, and includes by force of the term a right to employ all the means requisite . . . to the attainment of the ends of such power.

A sacred respect for the constitutional law is the vital principle, the sustaining energy of a free government.