War contains so much folly, as well as wickedness, that much is to be hoped from the progress of reason.

This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land.

In the compound republic of America, the power surrendered by the people is first divided between two distinct governments, and then the portion allotted to each subdivided among distinct and separate governments. Hence a double security arises to the rights of the people. The different governments will control each other, at the same time that each will be controlled by itself.

One nation is to another what one individual is to another; with this melancholy distinction perhaps, that the former with fewer of the benevolent emotions than the latter, are under fewer restraints also from taking undue advantage of the indiscretions of each other.

In a free government the security for civil rights must be the same as that for religious rights.

To suppose that any form of government will secure liberty or happiness without any virtue in the people, is a chimerical idea.

A man has a property in his opinions and the free communication of them.