Every society, all government, and every kind of civil compact therefore, is or ought to be, calculated for the general good and safety of the community.

I wish I knew where to get a good one myself; for I find cold Sheets extreamly disagreeable.

As much as I value an union of all the states, I would not admit the southern states into the union, unless they agreed to the discontinuance of this disgraceful trade, because it would bring weakness and not strength to the union.

The freedom of the press is one of the great bulwarks of liberty, and can never be restrained but by despotic governments.

I retired from public Business from a thorough Conviction that it was not in my Power to do any Good, and very much disgusted with Measures, which appeared to me inconsistent with common Policy and Justice.

Who are the militia? They consist now of the whole people, except a few public officers. But I cannot say who will be the militia of the future day. If that paper on the table [the Constitution] gets no alteration, the militia of the future day may not consist of all classes, high and low, and rich and poor.

Every society, all government, and every kind of civil compact therefore, is or ought to be, calculated for the general good and safety of the community.