The powers of congress must be defined, but their means must be adequate to the purposes of their constitution. It is possible there may be abuses and misapplications; still, it is better to hazard something than to hazard at all. — Oliver Ellsworth Copy Share Image
A people cannot long retain their freedom, whose government is incapable of protecting them. — Oliver Ellsworth Copy Share
A government capable of controlling the whole, and bringing its force to a point, is one of the prerequisites for national liberty. We combine… — Oliver Ellsworth Copy Share
The powers of congress must be defined, but their means must be adequate to the purposes of their constitution. It is possible there may… — Oliver Ellsworth Copy Share
Systems of religious error have been adopted in times of ignorance. It has been the interest of tyrannical kings, popes, and prelates to maintain… — Oliver Ellsworth Copy Share
The charge of being ambiguous and indefinite may be brought against every human composition, and necessarily arises from the imperfection of language. Perhaps no… — Oliver Ellsworth Copy Share
The power of collecting money from the people is not to be rejected because it has sometimes been oppressive. Public credit is as necessary… — Oliver Ellsworth Copy Share
The right of the judge to inflict punishment gives him both power and opportunity to oppress the innocent; yet none but crazy men will… — Oliver Ellsworth Copy Share
“Liberty is a word which, according as it is used, comprehends the most good and the most evil of any in the world. Justly… — Oliver Ellsworth Copy Share
Some persons never attain to the happy art of perspicuous expression, and it is equally true that some persons, thro' a mental defect of… — Oliver Ellsworth Copy Share
Liberty is a word which, according as it is used, comprehends the most good and the most evil of any in the world. Justly… — Oliver Ellsworth Copy Share
The sole purpose and effect of it is to exclude persecution and to secure the important right of religious liberty. — Oliver Ellsworth Copy Share
A desire of gain is common to mankind, and the general motive to business and industry. — Oliver Ellsworth Copy Share
All good men wish the entire abolition of slavery, as soon as it can take place with safety to the public, and for the… — Oliver Ellsworth Copy Share
Legislatures have no right to set up an inquisition and examine into the private opinions of men. Test-laws are useless and ineffectual, unjust and… — Oliver Ellsworth Copy Share
