Constitution Quote by Caleb Cushing
“I maintain that the House is bound by the Constitution to receive the petitions; after which, it will take such method of deciding upon them as reason and principle shall dictate.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Congressional Address, 1850s, United States
The Constitution mandates that petitions be received and decided upon based on reason and principle, emphasizing lawful process over arbitrary judgment.
In simple terms: Constitution requires petitions be handled rationally.
Key Takeaway
Follow legal procedures for fairness.
Themes
law
government
constitution
process
reason
principle
Mood
formal
analytical
serious
Type
political
legal
instructional
When to use this quote
- court hearings
- legislative sessions
- public petitions
Key Concepts
legalism
democratic theory
Questions to Reflect On
- Is reason always sufficient?
- How balance principle with compassion?
A Different Perspective
May ignore moral considerations in favor of strict legalism.
![“Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then [these?], any man might instantly use what another had invented; so that the inventor had no special advantage from his own invention. The patent system changed this…” quote by Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/449/abraham-lincoln-88_adoption_next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in_1828.jpg)
