Author Topic: The American Creed: Our Founding Fathers: (Read 799826 times)

Crafty_Dog · « **Reply #1200 on:** December 11, 2012, 08:21:09 AM »

"In such a performance you may lay the foundation of national happiness only in religion, not by leaving it doubtful "whether morals can exist without it," but by asserting that without religion morals are the effects of causes as purely physical as pleasant breezes and fruitful seasons." --Benjamin Rush, letter to John Adams, 1811

Crafty_Dog · « **Reply #1201 on:** December 12, 2012, 05:15:06 AM »

"Law and liberty cannot rationally become the objects of our love, unless they first become the objects of our knowledge." --James Wilson, Of the Study of the Law in the United States, 1790

Crafty_Dog · « **Reply #1202 on:** December 14, 2012, 02:16:42 PM »

"I am not influenced by the expectation of promotion or pecuniary reward. I wish to be useful, and every kind of service necessary for the public good, become honorable by being necessary." --Nathan Hale, remark to Captain William Hull, who had attempted to dissuade him from volunteering for a spy mission for General Washington, 1776

Crafty_Dog · « **Reply #1203 on:** December 17, 2012, 09:10:43 AM »

"As our president bears no resemblance to a king so we shall see the Senate has no similitude to nobles. First, not being hereditary, their collective knowledge, wisdom, and virtue are not precarious. For by these qualities alone are they to obtain their offices, and they will have none of the peculiar qualities and vices of those men who possess power merely because their father held it before them." --Tench Coxe, An American Citizen, No. 2, 1787

Crafty_Dog · « **Reply #1204 on:** December 18, 2012, 08:44:12 AM »

"Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom, must, like men, undergo the fatigues of supporting it." --Thomas Paine, The Crisis, no. 4, 1777

Crafty_Dog · « **Reply #1205 on:** December 19, 2012, 07:30:16 AM »

"All, too, will bear in mind this sacred principle, that though the will of the majority is in all cases to prevail, that will to be rightful must be reasonable; that the minority possess their equal rights, which equal law must protect, and to violate would be oppression." --Thomas Jefferson, First Inaugural Address, 1801

Crafty_Dog · « **Reply #1206 on:** December 21, 2012, 07:56:18 AM »

"[W]hereas, to preserve liberty, it is essential that the whole body of the people always possess arms, and be taught alike, especially when young, how to use them; nor does it follow from this, that all promiscuously must go into actual service on every occasion. The mind that aims at a select militia, must be influenced by a truly anti-republican principle; and when we see many men disposed to practice upon it, whenever they can prevail, no wonder true republicans are for carefully guarding against it." --Federal Farmer, Antifederalist Letter, No. 18, 1787

Crafty_Dog · « **Reply #1207 on:** December 26, 2012, 07:08:04 AM »

"A constitution founded on these principles introduces knowledge among the people, and inspires them with a conscious dignity becoming freemen; a general emulation takes place, which causes good humor, sociability, good manners, and good morals to be general. That elevation of sentiment inspired by such a government, makes the common people brave and enterprising. That ambition which is inspired by it makes them sober, industrious, and frugal." --John Adams, Thoughts on Government, 1776

Crafty_Dog · « **Reply #1208 on:** December 27, 2012, 08:41:48 AM »

"Labor to keep alive in your breast that little spark of celestial fire called conscience." --George Washington, The Rules of Civility, 1748

Crafty_Dog · « **Reply #1209 on:** December 28, 2012, 07:30:23 AM »

"The virtues of men are of more consequence to society than their abilities; and for this reason, the heart should be cultivated with more assiduity than the head." --Noah Webster, On the Education of Youth in America, 1788

Crafty_Dog · « **Reply #1210 on:** December 31, 2012, 10:20:38 AM »

"[T]he people are not to be disarmed of their weapons. They are left in full possession of them." --Zacharia Johnson, speech in the Virginia Ratifying Convention, 1788

Crafty_Dog · « **Reply #1211 on:** January 01, 2013, 10:40:16 AM »

"A general dissolution of principles and manners will more surely overthrow the liberties of America than the whole force of the common enemy. While the people are virtuous they cannot be subdued; but when once they lose their virtue then will be ready to surrender their liberties to the first external or internal invader." --Samuel Adams, letter to James Warren, 1779

Crafty_Dog · « **Reply #1212 on:** January 02, 2013, 09:12:51 AM »

"To take from one, because it is thought his own industry and that of his fathers has acquired too much, in order to spare to others, who, or whose fathers, have not exercised equal industry and skill, is to violate arbitrarily the first principle of association, the guarantee to everyone the free exercise of his industry and the fruits acquired by it." --Thomas Jefferson

Crafty_Dog · « **Reply #1213 on:** January 02, 2013, 10:40:56 AM »

"That the people have a right to keep and bear arms; that a well-regulated militia, composed of the body of the people trained to arms, is the proper, natural, and safe defence of a free state; that standing armies, in time of peace, are dangerous to liberty, and therefore ought to be avoided, as far as the circumstances and protection of the community will admit; and that, in all cases, the military should be under strict subordination to, and governed by, the civil power." --Recommended Bill of Rights from the Virginia Ratifying Convention, 1778

Crafty_Dog · « **Reply #1214 on:** January 03, 2013, 12:03:11 PM »

"Let it be told to the future world, that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive, the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet and to repulse it." --Thomas Paine (The American Crisis, No. 1, 1776)

"I think we have more machinery of government than is necessary, too many parasites living on the labor of the industrious." --Thomas Jefferson, letter to William Ludlow, 1824

Crafty_Dog · « **Reply #1215 on:** January 08, 2013, 08:33:28 AM »

"[W]hen the resolution of enslaving America was formed in Great Britain, the British Parliament was advised by an artful man, - who was governor of Pennsylvania, to disarm the people; that it was the best and most effectual way to enslave them; but that they should not do it openly, but weaken them, and let them sink gradually, by totally disusing and neglecting the militia." --George Mason, speech in the Virginia Ratifying Convention, 1788

Crafty_Dog · « **Reply #1216 on:** January 09, 2013, 09:04:27 AM »

"O sir, we should have fine times, indeed, if, to punish tyrants, it were only sufficient to assemble the people! Your arms, wherewith you could defend yourselves, are gone; and you have no longer an aristocratical, no longer a democratical spirit. Did you ever read of any revolution in a nation, brought about by the punishment of those in power, inflicted by those who had no power at all?" --Patrick Henry, speech in the Virginia Ratifying Convention, 1788

Crafty_Dog · « **Reply #1217 on:** January 09, 2013, 02:59:05 PM »

second post of the day:

The constitutions of most of our States assert, that all power is inherent in the people; that they may exercise it by themselves, in all cases to which they think themselves competent, (as in electing their functionaries executive and legislative, and deciding by a jury of themselves, in all judiciary cases in which any fact is involved,) or they may act by representatives, freely and equally chosen; that it is their right and duty to be at all times armed; that they are entitled to freedom of person, freedom of religion, freedom of property, and freedom of the press."

-- Thomas Jefferson

pp.46 - 47, "The Living Thoughts of Thomas Jefferson, Presented by John Dewey", Fawcett Publications, Inc., Greenwich, Conn.

Crafty_Dog · « **Reply #1218 on:** January 10, 2013, 08:50:33 AM »

"It will be of little avail to the people that the laws are made by men of their own choice, if the laws be so voluminous that they cannot be read, or so incoherent that they cannot be understood; if they be repealed or revised before they are promulgated, or undergo such incessant changes that no man who knows what the law is today can guess what it will be to-morrow." --James Madison, Federalist No. 62, 1788

Crafty_Dog · « **Reply #1219 on:** January 11, 2013, 09:24:12 AM »

"I ask, Sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people. To disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them." --George Mason, Speech at the Virginia Ratifying Convention, 1788

Crafty_Dog · « **Reply #1220 on:** January 14, 2013, 09:36:31 AM »

"A militia when properly formed are in fact the people themselves ... and include... all men capable of bearing arms. ... The mind that aims at a select militia, must be influenced by a truly anti-republican principle." --Richard Lee, Federal Farmer LIII

Crafty_Dog · « **Reply #1221 on:** January 17, 2013, 08:59:27 AM »

"No free government was ever founded or ever preserved its liberty, without uniting the characters of the citizen and soldier in those destined for the defence of the state.... Such are a well regulated militia, composed of the freeholders, citizen and husbandman, who take up arms to preserve their property, as individuals, and their rights as freemen." --Josiah Quincy, Jr., Thoughts on Standing Armies, 1774

Crafty_Dog · « **Reply #1222 on:** January 18, 2013, 06:50:16 AM »

"If there be a principle that ought not to be questioned within the United States, it is, that every nation has a right to abolish an old government and establish a new one. This principle is not only recorded in every public archive, written in every American heart, and sealed with the blood of a host of American martyrs; but is the only lawful tenure by which the United States hold their existence as a nation." --James Madison, Helevidius, No. 3, 1793

Crafty_Dog · « **Reply #1223 on:** January 21, 2013, 01:04:43 PM »

"[T]he mild voice of reason, pleading the cause of an enlarged and permanent interest, is but too often drowned, before public bodies as well as individuals, by the clamors of an impatient avidity for immediate and immoderate gain." --James Madison, Federalist No. 42, 1788

"If Congress can do whatever in their discretion can be done by money, and will promote the General Welfare, the Government is no longer a limited one, possessing enumerated powers, but an indefinite one, subject to particular exceptions." --James Madison, letter to Edmund Pendleton, 1792

"A militia when properly formed are in fact the people themselves ... and include... all men capable of bearing arms. ... The mind that aims at a select militia, must be influenced by a truly anti-republican principle." --Richard Lee, Federal Farmer LIII

Crafty_Dog · « **Reply #1224 on:** January 22, 2013, 08:06:32 AM »

"The necessity of reciprocal checks in the exercise of political power, by dividing and distributing it into different depositories, and constituting each the guardian of the public weal against invasions by the others, has been evinced by experiments ancient and modern, some of them in our country and under our own eyes." --George Washington, Farewell Address, 1796

Crafty_Dog · « **Reply #1225 on:** January 23, 2013, 08:56:58 AM »

"f the citizens neglect their duty and place unprincipled men in office, the government will soon be corrupted. ... If a republican government fails to secure public prosperity and happiness, it must be because the citizens neglect the Divine commands, and elect bad men to make and administer the laws." --Noah Webster, History of the United States

Crafty_Dog · « **Reply #1226 on:** January 25, 2013, 09:42:45 AM »

"The power of making war often prevents it, and in our case would give efficacy to our desire of peace."
--Thomas Jefferson, letter to George Washington, 1788

Crafty_Dog · « **Reply #1227 on:** January 29, 2013, 05:07:26 AM »

Not sure how I feel about this one , , ,

"If by the liberty of the press were understood merely the liberty of discussing the propriety of public measures and political opinions, let us have as much of it as you please: But if it means the liberty of affronting, calumniating and defaming one another, I, for my part, own myself willing to part with my share of it, whenever our legislators shall please so to alter the law and shall chearfully consent to exchange my liberty of abusing others for the privilege of not being abused myself." --Benjamin Franklin, 1789

Crafty_Dog · « **Reply #1228 on:** January 30, 2013, 08:49:13 AM »

"Is it reasonable to expect wisdom from the ignorant? Fidelity from the profligate? Assiduity and application to public business from men of a dissipated life? Is it reasonable to commit the management of public revenue to one who has wasted his own patrimony? Those, therefore, who pay no regard to religion and sobriety in the persons whom they send to the legislature of any State are guilty of the greatest absurdity and will soon pay dear for their folly." --John Witherspoon, A Sermon Delivered at Public Thanksgiving after Peace

Crafty_Dog · « **Reply #1229 on:** January 31, 2013, 07:00:22 AM »

"Strangers are welcome because there is room enough for them all, and therefore the old inhabitants are not jealous of them; the laws protect them sufficiently so that they have no need of the patronage of great men; and every one will enjoy securely the profits of his industry. But if he does not bring a fortune with him, he must work and be industrious to live." --Benjamin Franklin, Those Who Would Remove to America, 1784

G M · « **Reply #1230 on:** February 04, 2013, 05:09:03 PM »

"Corruption, like a cancer … eats faster and faster every hour. The revenue creates pensioners, and the pensioners urge for more revenue. The people grow less steady, spirited, and virtuous, the seekers more numerous and more corrupt, and every day increases the circles of their dependents and expectants, until virtue, integrity, public spirit, simplicity, and frugality become the objects of ridicule and scorn, and vanity, luxury, floppery, selfishness, meanness, and downright venality swallow up the whole of society." - President John Adams

Crafty_Dog · « **Reply #1231 on:** February 05, 2013, 09:14:13 AM »

"More permanent and genuine happiness is to be found in the sequestered walks of connubial life than in the giddy rounds of promiscuous pleasure." --George Washington, letter to the Marquis de la Rourie, 1786

Crafty_Dog · « **Reply #1232 on:** February 07, 2013, 09:01:19 AM »

"Without wishing to damp the ardor of curiosity or influence the freedom of inquiry, I will hazard a prediction that, after the most industrious and impartial researchers, the longest liver of you all will find no principles, institutions or systems of education more fit in general to be transmitted to your posterity than those you have received from your ancestors." --John Adams, letter to the young men of Philadelphia, 1798

Crafty_Dog · « **Reply #1233 on:** February 08, 2013, 08:27:43 AM »

"I regret, as much as any member, the unavoidable weight and duration of the burdens to be imposed; having never been a proselyte to the doctrine, that public debts are public benefits. I consider them, on the contrary, as evils which ought to be removed as fast as honor and justice will permit."
--James Madison, Debates in the House of Representatives on the First Report on Public Credit, 1790

Crafty_Dog · « **Reply #1234 on:** February 13, 2013, 08:13:42 AM »

"Let us consider, brethren, we are struggling for our best birthrights and inheritance, which being infringed, renders all our blessings precarious in their enjoyments, and, consequently triffling in their value. Let us disappoint the Men who are raising themselves on the ruin of this Country. Let us convince every invader of our freedom, that we will be as free as the constitution our fathers recognized, will justify."
--Samuel Adams, A State of the Rights of the Colonists, 1772

Crafty_Dog · « **Reply #1235 on:** February 18, 2013, 09:52:05 AM »

"If, from the more wretched parts of the old world, we look at those which are in an advanced stage of improvement, we still find the greedy hand of government thrusting itself into every corner and crevice of industry, and grasping the spoil of the multitude. Invention is continually exercised, to furnish new pretenses for revenue and taxation. It watches prosperity as its prey and permits none to escape without tribute."
--Thomas Paine, Rights of Man, 1791

Crafty_Dog · « **Reply #1236 on:** February 21, 2013, 08:22:18 AM »

"Our conflict is not likely to cease so soon as every good man would wish. The measure of iniquity is not yet filled; and unless we can return a little more to first principles, and act a little more upon patriotic ground, I do not know when it will -- or -- what may be the issue of the contest. Speculation -- peculation -- engrossing -- forestalling -- with all their concomitants, afford too many melancholy proofs of the decay of public virtue; and too glaring instances of its being the interest and desire of too many, who would wish to be thought friends, to continue the war."
--George Washington, letter to James Warren, 1779

Crafty_Dog · « **Reply #1237 on:** February 26, 2013, 08:11:22 AM »

"Men must be ready, they must pride themselves and be happy to sacrifice their private pleasures, passions and interests, nay, their private friendships and dearest connections, when they stand in competition with the rights of society."
--John Adams, letter to Mercy Warren, 1776

Crafty_Dog · « **Reply #1238 on:** February 26, 2013, 02:52:14 PM »

President Coolidge may not have been a FF, but in that this speech is about the American Creed I post it here:

http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=408

Crafty_Dog · « **Reply #1239 on:** February 28, 2013, 07:09:01 AM »

"The opinion has been very general, that, in order to obtain the blessings of a good government, a sacrifice must be made of a part of our natural liberty. I am much inclined to believe, that, upon examination, this opinion will prove to be fallacious."
--James Wilson, Lectures on Law, 1790

Crafty_Dog · « **Reply #1240 on:** March 01, 2013, 06:50:14 AM »

"There is a rank due to the United States, among nations, which will be withheld, if not absolutely lost, by the reputation of weakness. If we desire to avoid insult, we must be able to repel it; if we desire to secure peace, one of the most powerful instruments of our rising prosperity, it must be known that we are at all times ready for war."
--George Washington, Fifth Annual Message, 1793

Crafty_Dog · « **Reply #1241 on:** March 04, 2013, 06:26:04 AM »

"How strangely will the Tools of a Tyrant pervert the plain Meaning of Words!"

--Samuel Adams, 1776

Crafty_Dog · « **Reply #1242 on:** March 04, 2013, 04:34:20 PM »

"The right of freely examining public characters and measures, and of free
communication among the people thereon ... has ever been justly deemed the
only effectual guardian of every other right." --James Madison

Crafty_Dog · « **Reply #1243 on:** March 05, 2013, 04:48:54 AM »

"If the president alone was vested with the power of appointing all officers, and
was left to select a council for himself, he would be liable to be deceived by
flatterers and pretenders to patriotism."

--Roger Sherman, 1789

Crafty_Dog · « **Reply #1244 on:** March 06, 2013, 05:53:35 AM »

"The judiciary of the United States is the subtle corps of sappers and miners
constantly working under ground to undermine the foundations of our confederated
fabric. They are construing our constitution from a co-ordination of a general and
special government to a general and supreme one alone."

--Thomas Jefferson, letter to Thomas Ritchie, 1820

bigdog · « **Reply #1245 on:** March 06, 2013, 06:50:31 AM »

This comes from a former president who suspended a term of the SCOTUS and when toe to toe with his hated cousin, the CJ. I understand the point of the post, but hardly unbiased.

Crafty_Dog · « **Reply #1246 on:** March 06, 2013, 11:27:26 AM »

Fair enough! Yet with what we have seen of judicial activism/imperialism TJ is not without merit as well

Crafty_Dog · « **Reply #1247 on:** March 07, 2013, 07:45:45 AM »

My, how things have changed!

"But while property is considered as the basis of the freedom of the American
yeomanry, there are other auxiliary supports; among which is the information of the
people. In no country, is education so general -- in no country, have the body of
the people such a knowledge of the rights of men and the principles of government.
This knowledge, joined with a keen sense of liberty and a watchful jealousy, will
guard our constitutions and awaken the people to an instantaneous resistance of
encroachments."

--Noah Webster, On Education of Youth in America, 1790

Crafty_Dog · « **Reply #1248 on:** March 11, 2013, 05:42:40 AM »

"In the first place, it is to be remembered, that the general government is not to
be charged with the whole power of making and administering laws. Its jurisdiction
is limited to certain enumerated objects, which concern all the members of the
republic, but which are not to be attained by the separate provisions of any."

--James Madison, Federalist Paper XIV, 1787

Crafty_Dog · « **Reply #1249 on:** March 12, 2013, 10:54:20 AM »

"A Constitution is not the act of a Government, but of a people constituting a government, and a government without a constitution is a power without right."
--Thomas Paine, Rights of Man, 1791

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Author Topic: The American Creed: Our Founding Fathers: (Read 799826 times)