George Washington

The new constitution established a president with powers unheard of in the republican United States. Some even wanted him to read more

The new constitution established a president with powers unheard of in the republican United States. Some even wanted him to be king, a thought that GW found ludicrous: What astonishing changes a few years are capable of producing! I am told that even respectable characters speak of a monarchical form of government without horror. From thinking proceeds speaking, thence to acting is often but a single step. But how irrevocable and tremendous! What a triumph for the advocates of despotism to find that we are incapable of governing ourselves, and that systems founded on the basis of equal liberty are merely ideal & fallacious!

As Mankind becomes more liberal, they will be more apt to allow that all those who conduct themselves as worthy read more

As Mankind becomes more liberal, they will be more apt to allow that all those who conduct themselves as worthy members of the community are equally entitled to the protections of civil government. I hope ever to see America among the foremost nations of justice and liberality.

Over grown military establishments are under any form of government inauspicious to liberty, and are to be regarded as particularly read more

Over grown military establishments are under any form of government inauspicious to liberty, and are to be regarded as particularly hostile to republican liberty.

Let us raise a standard to which the wise and honest can repair; the rest is in the hands of read more

Let us raise a standard to which the wise and honest can repair; the rest is in the hands of God.

The liberality of sentiment toward each other, which marks every political and religious denomination of men in this country, stands read more

The liberality of sentiment toward each other, which marks every political and religious denomination of men in this country, stands unparalleled in the history of nations.