[V]igor of government is essential to the security of liberty.

Civil liberty is only natural liberty, modified and secured by the sanctions of civil society.

It may safely be received as an axiom in our political system, that the state governments will in all possible contingencies afford complete security against invasions of the public liberty by the national authority.

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

Now, mark my words. So long as we are a young and virtuous people, this instument will bind us together in mutual interests, mutual welfare, and mutual happiness. But when we become old and corrupt, it will bind no longer.

The propriety of a law, in a constitutional light, must always be determined by the nature of the powers upon which it is founded.

There is no part of the administration of government that requires extensive information and a thorough knowledge of the principles of political economy, so much as the business of taxation. The man who understands those principles best will be least likely to resort to oppressive expedients, or sacrifice any particular class of citizens to the procurement of revenue. It might be demonstrated that the most productive system of finance will always be the least burdensome.