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The Federalist, on the New Constitution, Written in the Year 1788

Book by James Madison · 6 quotes · Government, Federalist Papers, Constitution

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The Federalist, on the New Constitution, Written in the Year 1788 Quotes

“If it be asked what is to restrain the House of Representatives from making legal discriminations in favor of themselves and a particular class of the society? I answer, the genius of the whole system, the nature of just and constitutional laws, and above all the vigilant and manly spirit which actuates the people of America, a spirit which nourishes freedom, and in return is nourished by it. If this spirit shall ever be so far debased as to tolerate a law not obligatory on the Legislature as well as on the people, the people will be prepared to tolerate anything but liberty.”

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Book:The Federalist, on the New Constitution, Written in the Year 1788
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“For the same reason that the members of the State legislatures will be unlikely to attach themselves sufficiently to national objects, the members of the federal legislature will be likely to attach themselves too much to local objects.”

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Book:The Federalist, on the New Constitution, Written in the Year 1788
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“The people can never willfully betray their own interests: But they may possibly be betrayed by the representatives of the people; and the danger will be evidently greater where the whole legislative trust is lodged in the hands of one body of men, than where the concurrence of separate and dissimilar bodies is required in every public act.”

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Book:The Federalist, on the New Constitution, Written in the Year 1788
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“In this distribution of powers the wisdom of our constitution is manifested. It is the province and duty of the Executive to preserve to the Nation the blessings of peace. The Legislature alone can interrupt those blessings, by placing the Nation in a state of War.”

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Book:The Federalist, on the New Constitution, Written in the Year 1788
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