Measures are too often decided, not according to the rules of justice and the rights of the minor party, but by the superior force of an interested and overbearing majority.

The Constitution of the United States was created by the people of the United States composing the respective states, who alone had the right.

We are right to take alarm at the first experiment upon our liberties.

Man is known to be a selfish, as well as a social being.

If men were angels, there would be no need of government.

It is proper to take alarm at the first experiment on our liberties. We hold this prudent jealousy to be the first duty of citizens and one of the noblest characteristics of the late Revolution. The freemen of America did not wait till usurped power had strengthened itself by exercise and entangled the question in precedents. They saw all the consequences in the principle, and they avoided the consequences by denying the principle. We revere this lesson too much ... to forget it

Each generation should be made to bear the burden of its own wars, instead of carrying them on, at the expense of other generations.