"The name of American, which belongs to you, in your national capacity, must always exalt the just pride of Patriotism." -George Washington (1796)
"The accumulation of all powers, legislative, executive, and judiciary, in the same hands, whether of one, a few, or many, and whether hereditary, self-appointed, or elective, may justly be pronounced the very definition of tyranny." -James Madison (1788)
"The essence of Government is power; and power, lodged as it must be in human hands, will ever be liable to abuse." -James Madison (1829)
"That form of government which is best contrived to secure an impartial and exact execution of the law, is the best of republics."-John Adams (1776)
"Let the American youth never forget, that they possess a noble inheritance, bought by the toils, and sufferings, and blood of their ancestors; and capacity, if wisely improved, and faithfully guarded, of transmitting to their latest posterity all the substantial blessings of life, the peaceful enjoyment of liberty, property, religion, and independence."-Joseph Story (1833)
"Would it not be better to simplify the system of taxation rather than to spread it over such a variety of subjects and pass through so many new hands." -Thomas Jefferson (1784)
