The question whether the judges are invested with exclusive authority to decide on the constitutionality of a law has been heretofore a subject of consideration with me in the exercise of official duties. Certainly there is not a word in the Constitution which has given that power to them more than to the Executive or Legislative branches.

The olive tree is surely the richest gift of Heaven. I can scarcely expect bread.

We generally learn languages for the benefit of reading the books written in them

The whole body of the nation is the sovereign legislative, judiciary, and executive power for itself. The inconvenience of meeting to exercise these powers in person, and their inaptitude to exercise them, induce them to appoint special organs to declare their legislative will, to judge and to execute it. It is the will of the nation which makes the law obligatory.

To unequal privileges among members of the same society the spirit of our nation is, with one accord, adverse.

They are exactly the persons who are to succeed to the government of our country and to rule its future enmities, its friendships and fortunes.

My general plan would be to make the States one as to everything connected with foreign nations and several as to everything purely domestic.