All good men wish the entire abolition of slavery, as soon as it can take place with safety to the public, and for the lasting good of the present wretched race of slaves. The only possible step that could be… — Oliver Ellsworth Copy Share Image
Judge candidly what a wretched figure the American empire will exhibit in the eye of other nations, without a power to array and support a military force for its own protection. — Oliver Ellsworth Copy Share Image
A people cannot long retain their freedom, whose government is incapable of protecting them. — Oliver Ellsworth Copy Share Image
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 Image
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 Image
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 Image
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 Image
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 Image
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 Image
“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 Image
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 Image
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 Image
The sole purpose and effect of it is to exclude persecution and to secure the important right of religious liberty. — Oliver Ellsworth Copy Share Image
