I am an American

Eesh I go on vacation and leave you starving for some more quotes from our Founding Fathers! Here's a quote each day I missed (fri, sat, sun, mon) and a quote for today!

I anticipate the Day when to command Respect in the remotest Regions it will be sufficient to say I am an American. Our Flag shall then wave in Glory over the Ocean and our Commerce feel no Restraint but what our own Government may impose. Happy thrice happy Day. Thank God, to reach this envied State we need only to Will. Yes my countrymen. Our Destiny depends on our Will.

Gouverneur Morris
Speech in 1800

This government, the offspring of our own choice uninfluenced and unawed, adopted upon full investigation and mature deliberation, completely free in its principles, in the distribution of its powers, uniting security with energy, and containing within itself a provision for its own amendment, has a just claim to your confidence and your support.

George Washington
Farewell Address
Sep 19, 1796

The advice nearest to my heart and deepest in my convictions is that the Union of the States be cherished and perpetuated.

James Madison
Advice to My Country
Fall 1834

I charge them, on a father’s blessing, never to let the motives of private interest or ambition to induce them to betray, nor the terrors of poverty and disgrace, or the fear of danger or of death deter them from asserting the liberty of their country, and endeavoring to transmit to their posterity those sacred rights to which themselves were born.

George Mason
To his sons
Last Will & Testament

Independence Forever!

John Adams
July 4, 1826
on the 50 yr anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and date of his & Thomas Jefferson’s death

if men were angels

I got too busy for a quote yesterday :( So here's 2!

They accomplished a revolution which has no parallel in the annals of human society: They reared the fabrics of governments which have no model on the face of the globe. They formed the design of a great confederacy, which it is incumbent on their successors to improve and perpetuate.

James Madison
Federalist No. 14
Nov 30, 1787

If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary. In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men, the great difficulty lies in this: you must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place oblige it to control itself.

James Madison
Federalist No. 51
Feb 8, 1788

loves liberty

Every man who loves peace, every man who loves his country, every man who loves liberty ought to have it ever before his eyes that he may cherish in his heart a due attachment to the Union of America and be able to set a due value on the means of preserving it.

James Madison
Federalist No. 41: General View of the Powers Conferred by The Constitution
Jan 19, 1788