No man can be a competent legislator who does not add to an upright intention and a sound judgment a certain degree… — James Madison Copy Share Image
Bills of attainder, ex-post facto laws and laws impairing the obligation of contracts are contrary to the first principles of the social… — James Madison Copy Share Image
No distinction seems to be more obvious than that between spiritual and temporal matters. Yet whenever they have been made objects of… — James Madison Copy Share Image
There is not a more important and fundamental principle in legislation, than that the ways and means ought always to face the… — James Madison Copy Share Image
Another advantage accruing from this ingredient in the constitution of a senate, is the additional impediment it must prove against improper acts… — James Madison Copy Share Image
The regulation of these various and interfering interests forms the principal task of modern legislation and involves the spirit of party and… — James Madison Copy Share Image
There is not a more important and fundamental principle in legislation, than that the ways and means ought always to face the… — James Madison Copy Share Image
The important distinction so well understood in America between a constitution established by the people, and unalterable by the government; and a… — James Madison Copy Share Image
To refer the power in question to the clause "to provide for the common defense and general welfare" would be contrary to… — James Madison Copy Share Image
“Knowledge will forever govern ignorance, and a people who mean to be their own governors, must arm themselves with the power knowledge gives. A… — James Madison Copy Share
Rulers who wished to subvert the public liberty, may have found an established Clergy convenient auxiliaries. A just Government instituted to secure & perpetuate… — James Madison Copy Share
The powers delegated by the proposed Constitution to the federal government are few and defined. Those which are to remain in the State governments… — James Madison Copy Share
How could a readiness for war in time of peace be safely prohibited, unless we could prohibit, in like manner, the preparations and establishments… — James Madison Copy Share
The accumulation of all powers, legislative, executive, and judiciary, in the same hands, whether of one, a few, or many, and whether hereditary, selfappointed,… — James Madison Copy Share
It is certain that every class is interested in [educational] establishments which give to the human mind its highest improvements, and to every Country… — James Madison Copy Share
Since it is impossible for the people spontaneously and universally, to move in concert towards their object; and it is therefore essential, that such… — James Madison Copy Share
The definition of the right of suffrage is very justly regarded as a fundamental article of republican government. — James Madison Copy Share
The future and success of America is not in this Constitution, but in the laws of God upon which this Constitution is founded. — James Madison Copy Share
They can make no law which will not have its full operation on themselves and their friends, as well as on the great mass… — James Madison Copy Share
The effect of a representative democracy is to refine and enlarge the public views, by passing them through the medium of a chosen body… — James Madison Copy Share
“... But besides the danger of a direct mixture of Religion & civil Government , there is an evil which ought to be guarded… — James Madison Copy Share
Although all men are born free, slavery has been the general lot of the human race. Ignorant--they have been cheated; asleep--they have been surprised;… — James Madison Copy Share
“It may be a reflection on human nature, that such devices should be necessary to control the abuses of government. But what is government… — James Madison Copy Share
The better proof of reverence for that holy name would be not to profane it by making it a topic of legislative discussion… — James Madison Copy Share
