Each day I will post various remarks from our Founders on
what they thought about on various subjects. Since our inception as a country it
seems, at least to me America looks very different today than then. Many of
their beliefs shaped the beginning. In many respects we have set ourselves up
for collapse from within. Not from all people, but from those who wish America
to change it's face or to fail outright. It is because of the latter that I
decided to launch this series. Please feel free to discuss these remarks that
were made so long ago. I believe this information is very important, especially
for the military since they are the armed protectors of our nation, the front
lines of our defense and as to our very survival as a nation in this world.

Day 19: Federalism

Madison, James Notes on Nullification
0
Topic: Federalism

It becomes all therefore who are friends of a Government based on free principles to reflect, that by denying the possibility of a system partly federal and partly consolidated, and who would convert ours into one either wholly federal or wholly consolidated, in neither of which forms have individual rights, public order, and external safety, been all duly maintained, they aim a deadly blow at the last hope of true liberty on the face of the Earth.



Madison, James Federalist No. 45
0
Topic: Federalism

The powers delegated by the proposed Constitution to the federal government are few and defined. Those which are to remain in the State governments are numerous and indefinite.



Hamilton, Alexander Federalist No. 9
1787
Topic: Federalism

The proposed Constitution, so far from implying an abolition of the State governments, makes them constituent parts of the national sovereignty, by allowing them a direct representation in the Senate, and leaves in their possession certain exclusive and very important portions of sovereign power. This fully corresponds, in every rational import of the terms, with the idea of a federal government.


Federal Farmer Antifederalist Letter
October 10, 1787
Topic: Federalism

Besides, to lay and collect internal taxes in this extensive country must require a great number of congressional ordinances, immediately operation upon the body of the people; these must continually interfere with the state laws and thereby produce disorder and general dissatisfaction till the one system of laws or the other, operating upon the same subjects, shall be abolished.



Madison, James Federalist No. 39
1788
Topic: Federalism

Each State, in ratifying the Constitution, is considered as a sovereign body, independent of all others, and only to be bound by its own voluntary act. In this relation, then, the new Constitution will, if established, be a FEDERAL, and not a NATIONAL constitution.



Madison, James Federalist No. 45
1788
Topic: Federalism

The operations of the federal government will be most extensive and important in times of war and danger; those of the State governments, in times of peace and security.


Dickinson, John Letters of Fabius
1788
Topic: Federalism

The power of the people pervading the proposed system, together with the strong confederation of the states, will form an adequate security against every danger that has been apprehended.



Madison, James Federalist No. 46
January 29, 1788
Topic: Federalism

But ambitious encroachments of the federal government, on the authority of the State governments, would not excite the opposition of a single State, or of a few States only. They would be signals of general alarm... But what degree of madness could ever drive the federal government to such an extremity.



Hamilton, Alexander speech at the New York Ratifying Convention
June, 1788
Topic: Federalism

When you assemble from your several counties in the Legislature, were every member to be guided only by the apparent interest of his county, government would be impracticable. There must be a perpetual accomodation and sacrifice of local advantage to general expediency.


Hamilton, Alexander speech to the New York Ratifying Convention
June, 1788
Topic: Federalism

The local interest of a State ought in every case to give way to the interests of the Union. For when a sacrifice of one or the other is necessary, the former becomes only an apparent, partial interest, and should yield, on the principle that the smaller good ought never to oppose the greater good.



Hamilton, Alexander speech to the New York Ratifying Convention
June 17, 1788
Topic: Federalism

This balance between the National and State governments ought to be dwelt on with peculiar attention, as it is of the utmost importance. It forms a double security to the people. If one encroaches on their rights they will find a powerful protection in the other. Indeed, they will both be prevented from overpassing their constitutional limits by a certain rivalship, which will ever subsist between them.



Hamilton, Alexander speech to the New York Ratifying Convention
June 17, 1788
Topic: Federalism

The State governments possess inherent advantages, which will ever give them an influence and ascendancy over the National Government, and will for ever preclude the possibility of federal encroachments. That their liberties, indeed, can be subverted by the federal head, is repugnant to every rule of political calculation.


Hamilton, Alexander speech to the New York Ratifying Convention
June 24, 1788
Topic: Federalism

While the constitution continues to be read, and its principles known, the states, must, by every rational man, be considered as essential component parts of the union; and therefore the idea of sacrificing the former to the latter is totally inadmissible.



Tenth Amendment to the Constitution Bill of Rights
December 15, 1791
Topic: Federalism

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.



Jefferson, Thomas Opinion on the Constitutionality of a National Bank
February 15, 1791
Topic: Federalism

I consider the foundation of the Constitution as laid on this ground that 'all powers not delegated to the United States, by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states or to the people.' To take a single step beyond the boundaries thus specially drawn around the powers of Congress, is to take possession of a boundless field of power, not longer susceptible of any definition.


Jefferson, Thomas letter to Judge William Johnson
June 12, 1823
Topic: Federalism

[T]he States can best govern our home concerns and the general government our foreign ones. I wish, therefore...never to see all offices transferred to Washington, where, further withdrawn from the eyes of the people, they may more secretly be bought and sold at market.



Story, Joseph Commentaries on the Constitution
1833
Topic: Federalism

So that the executive and legislative branches of the national government depend upon, and emanate from the states. Every where the state sovereignties are represented; and the national sovereignty, as such, has no representation.



Story, Joseph Commentaries on the Constitution
1833
Topic: Federalism

The state governments have a full superintendence and control over the immense mass of local interests of their respective states, which connect themselves with the feelings, the affections, the municipal institutions, and the internal arrangements of the whole population. They possess, too, the immediate administration of justice in all cases, civil and criminal, which concern the property, personal rights, and peaceful pursuits of their own citizens.



Story, Joseph Commentaries on the Constitution
1833
Topic: Federalism

In the next place, the state governments are, by the very theory of the constitution, essential constituent parts of the general government. They can exist without the latter, but the latter cannot exist without them.



Story, Joseph Commentaries on the Constitution
1833
Topic: Federalism

Another not unimportant consideration is, that the powers of the general government will be, and indeed must be, principally employed upon external objects, such as war, peace, negotiations with foreign powers, and foreign commerce. In its internal operations it can touch but few objects, except to introduce regulations beneficial to the commerce, intercourse, and other relations, between the states, and to lay taxes for the common good. The powers of the states, on the other hand, extend to all objects, which, in the ordinary course of affairs, concern the lives, and liberties, and property of the people, and the internal order, improvement, and prosperity of the state.



Story, Joseph Commentaries on the Constitution
1833
Topic: Federalism

The true test is, whether the object be of a local character, and local use; or, whether it be of general benefit to the states. If it be purely local, congress cannot constitutionally appropriate money for the object. But, if the benefit be general, it matters not, whether in point of locality it be in one state, or several; whether it be of large, or of small extent.


Day 20: Human Nature

Franklin, Benjamin Autobiography
1771
Topic: Human Nature

In reality there is perhaps no one of our natural Passions so hard to subdue as Pride. Disguise it, struggle with it, beat it down, stifle it, mortify it as much as one pleases, it is still alive, and will now and then peek out and show itself.…



Adams, John the Novanglus
1775
Topic: Human Nature

Human nature itself is evermore an advocate for liberty. There is also in human nature a resentment of injury, and indignation against wrong. A love of truth and a veneration of virtue. These amiable passions, are the "latent spark"... If the people are capable of understanding, seeing and feeling the differences between true and false, right and wrong, virtue and vice, to what better principle can the friends of mankind apply than to the sense of this difference?


Hamilton, Alexander The Farmer Refuted
February 23, 1775
Topic: Human Nature

There is a certain enthusiasm in liberty, that makes human nature rise above itself, in acts of bravery and heroism.



Anonymous Four Letters on Interesting Subjects
1776
Topic: human nature

[P]erfection in government, like perfection in all other earthly things, is not to be hoped for. A single house, or duplication of them, will alike have their evils; and the defect is incurable, being founded in the nature of man, and the instability of things.



Washington, George The Newburgh Address
January 2, 1783
Topic: Human Nature

And you will, by the dignity of your Conduct, afford occasion for Posterity to say, when speaking of the glorious example you have exhibited to Mankind, had this day been wanting, the World had never seen the last stage of perfection to which human nature is capable of attaining.


Washington, George letter to John Jay
August 15, 1786
Topic: Human Nature

We must take human nature as we find it, perfection falls not to the share of mortals.



Hamilton, Alexander Federalist No. 71
1787
Topic: Human Nature

It is a general principle of human nature, that a man will be interested in whatever he possesses, in proportion to the firmness or precariousness of the tenure by which he holds it; will be less attached to what he holds by a momentary or uncertain title, than to what he enjoys by a durable or certain title; and, of course, will be willing to risk more for the sake of the one, than for the sake of the other. This remark is not less applicable to a political privilege, or honor, or trust, than to any article of ordinary property.



Madison, James Federalist No. 10
November 23, 1787
Topic: Human Nature

The latent causes of faction are thus sown in the nature of man.


Madison, James Federalist No. 37
1788
Topic: Human Nature

It is a misfortune, inseparable from human affairs, that public measures are rarely investigated with that spirit of moderation which is essential to a just estimate of their real tendency to advance or obstruct the public good; and that this spirit is more apt to be diminished than prompted, by those occasions which require an unusual exercise of it.



Madison, James Federalist No. 57
1788
Topic: Human Nature

There is in every breast a sensibility to marks of honor, of favor, of esteem, and of confidence, which, apart from all considerations of interest, is some pledge for grateful and benevolent returns. Ingratitude is a common topic of declamation against human nature; and it must be confessed, that instances of it are but too infrequent and flagrant both in public and in private life. But the universal and extreme indignation which it inspires, is itself a proof of the energy and prevalence of the contrary sentiment.


Hamilton, Alexander Federalist No. 71
1788
Topic: Human Nature

It is a general principle of human nature, that a man will be interested in whatever he possesses, in proportion to the firmness or precariousness of the tenure, by which he holds it; will be less attached to what he holds by a momentary or uncertain title.



Hamilton, Alexander Federalist No. 72
1788
Topic: Human Nature

That experience is the parent of wisdom is an adage, the truth of which is recognized by the wisest as well as the simplest of mankind.



Hamilton, Alexander Federalist No. 75
1788
Topic: Human Nature

The history of human conduct does not warrant that exalted opinion of human virtue which would make it wise in a nation to commit interests of so delicate and momentous a kind as those which concern its intercourse with the rest of the world to the sole disposal of a magistrate, created and circumstanced, as would be a president of the United States.


Madison, James Federalist No. 55
February 15, 1788
Topic: Human Nature

As there is a degree of depravity in mankind which requires a certain degree of circumspection and distrust: So there are other qualities in human nature, which justify a certain portion of esteem and confidence. Republican government presupposes the existence of these qualities in a higher degree than any other form. Were the pictures which have been drawn by the political jealousy of some among us, faithful likenesses of the human character, the inference would be that there is not sufficient virtue among men for self-government; and that nothing less than the chains of despotism can restrain them from destroying and devouring one another.



Hamilton, Alexander and Madison, James Federalist No. 55
February 15, 1788
Topic: Human Nature

Were the pictures which have been drawn by the political jealousy of some among us faithful likenesses of the human character, the inference would be, that there is not sufficient virture among men for self-government; and that nothing less than the chains of despotism can restrain them from destroying and devouring one another.



Madison, James Federalist No. 52
February 8, 1788
Topic: Human Nature

In a society under the forms of which the stronger faction can readily unite and oppress the weaker, anarchy may as truly be said to reign as in a state of nature.


February 8, 1788
Topic: Human Nature

Ambition must be made to counteract ambition. The interest of the man must be connected with the constitutional rights of the place. It may be a reflection on human nature that such devices should be necessary to control the abuses of government. What is government itself but the greatest of all reflections on human nature?



Hamilton, Alexander Federalist No. 34
January 4, 1788
Topic: Human Nature

To model our political system upon speculations of lasting tranquility, is to calculate on the weaker springs of the human character.



Hamilton, Alexander speech at the New York Ratifying Convention
June, 1788
Topic: Human Nature

There are certain social principles in human nature, from which we may draw the most solid conclusions with respect to the conduct of individuals and of communities. We love our families more than our neighbors; we love our neighbors more than our countrymen in general. The human affections, like solar heat, lose their intensity as they depart from the centre... On these principles, the attachment of the individual will be first and for ever secured by the State governments. They will be a mutual protection and support.


Hamilton, Alexander speech to the New York Ratifying Convention
June, 1788
Topic: Human Nature

As riches increase and accumulate in few hands, as luxury prevails in society, virtue will be in a greater degree considered as only a graceful appendage of wealth, and the tendency of things will be to depart from the republican standard. This is the real disposition of human nature; it is what neither the honorable member nor myself can correct. It is a common misfortunate that awaits our State constitution, as well as all others.



Washington, George Farewell Address
1796
Topic: Human Nature

In the discharge of this trust I will only say that I have, with good intentions, contributed toward the organization and administration of the Government the best exertions of which a very fallible judgment was capable.


Our Founders Thoughts Day 19: Federalism
Socialism: Does it Fit Mankind?