The true theory of our Constitution is surely the wisest and best, that the States are independent as to everything within themselves, and united as to everything respecting foreign affairs. Let the General Government be reduced to foreign concerns only, and let our affairs be disentangled from those of all other nations, except as to commerce, which the merchants will manage the better, the more they are left free to manage for themselves, and our General Government may be reduced to a very simple organization, and a very inexpensive one; a few plain duties to be performed by a few servants.

Never did a prisoner, released from his chains, feel such relief as I shall on shaking off the shackles of power.

Our peculiar security is in the possession of a written Constitution. Let us not make it a blank paper by construction.

It is not only vain, but wicked, in a legislator to frame laws in opposition to the laws of nature, and to arm them with the terrors of death. This is truly creating crimes in order to punish them.

Certain teachings in the Bible are as diamonds in a dung-heap.

No government should be without critics. If its intentions are good then it has nothing to fear from criticism.

Liberty is the great parent of science and of virtue; and a nation will be great in both in proportion as it is free.