A legislative act contrary to the Constitution is not law.

In a free government almost all other rights would become worthless if the government possessed power over the private fortune of every citizen.

No principle of general law is more universally acknowledged, than the perfect equality of nations. Russia and Geneva have equal rights. It results from this equality, that no one can rightfully impose a rule on another....As no nation can prescribe a rule for others, none can make a law of nations.

To listen well is as powerful a means of communication and influence as to talk well

When a law is in its nature a contract, when absolute rights have vested under that contract, a repeal of the law cannot divest those rights.

No one imagines that a law professing to tax will be permitted to destroy.

The power to tax is the power to destroy.