On every unauthoritative exercise of power by the legislature must the people rise in rebellion or their silence be construed into a surrender of that power to them? If so, how many rebellions should we have had already?

Instead of an aristocracy of wealth, of more harm and danger than benefit to society, to make an opening for the aristocracy of virtue and talent, which nature has wisely provided for the direction of the interests of society and scattered with equal hand through all its conditions, was deemed essential to a well-ordered republic.

An enlightened citizenry is indispensable for the proper functioning of a republic. Self-government is not possible unless the citizens are educated sufficiently to enable them to exercise oversight. It is therefore imperative that the nation see to it that a suitable education be provided for all its citizens.

When tempted to do any thing in secret, ask yourself if you would do it in public.

No man has greater confidence than I have in the spirit of the people, to a rational extent. Whatever they can, they will.

It is every Americans' right and obligation to read and interpret the Constitution for himself.

Nobody can acquire honor by doing what is wrong.