James Madison: Federal Powers Limited, State Powers Indefinite
FOUNDERS CORNER: LIMITED GOVERNMENT AND FEDERALISM
The powers delegated by the proposed Constitution to the federal government, are few and defined. Those which are to...
Madison: Vices of the Political System of the United States
Liberty Letters, James Madison
VICES OF THE POLITICAL SYSTEM OF THE UNITED STATES, 16 APRIL 1787
James Madison to George Washington (also, a copy taken by...
Madison: Checking rulers, passion, human error, and leveling
Liberty Letters, James Madison, 26 June 1787
In order to judge of the form to be given to this institution, it will be proper to...
James Madison: Be Watchful to Enroll in the Annals of Heaven
Liberty Letters, James Madison, 1772
My dear Billey,
You moralize so prettily that if I were to judge from some parts of your letter of October...
Madison: Greatest Trust Ever Confided to a Political Society
Liberty Letters, James Madison, 1783
Let it be remembered, finally, that it has ever been the pride and boast of America, that the rights for...
James Madison: Is There No Virtue Among Us?
Liberty Letters, James Madison
Is there no virtue among us? If there be not, we are in a wretched situation. No theoretical checks, no form...
James Madison on Federalism and the Limitation of Powers
Liberty Letters, James Madison, 1788
The powers delegated by the proposed Constitution to the Federal Government, are few and defined. Those which are to remain...
Founders on the Need for a Vigorous but Limited Executive
Liberty Letters, Constitutional Convention of 1787
On June 1, 1787 in the early days of the Constitutional Convention the Founders entered upon a discussion of...
James Madison: On Preventing and Repelling Danger
Liberty Letters, James Madison
Notwithstanding the security for future repose which the United States ought to find in their love of peace and their constant...
Checks and Balances and the Separation of Powers
Liberty Letters, James Madison, 1788
One of the principal objections inculcated by the more respectable adversaries to the constitution, is its supposed violation of the...
Madison: Foreign Relations are the Most Susceptible to Abuse
Liberty Letters, James Madison
The management of foreign relations appears to be the most susceptible of abuse of all the trusts committed to a Government,...
Wherever There is an Interest and Power …
LIBERTY LETTERS WITH STEVE FARRELL
Wrote American Founder, James Madison:
Wherever the real power in a Government lies, there is the danger of oppression. In our...
James Madison asks: “Is There Virtue in the People?”
Liberty Letters, James Madison
I go on this great republican principle, that the people will have virtue and intelligence to select men of virtue and...
James Madison asks: "Is There Virtue in the People?"
Liberty Letters, James Madison
I go on this great republican principle, that the people will have virtue and intelligence to select men of virtue and...
Efficient Governments are the Worst, Inefficient the Best
Liberty Letters, James Madison
No government of human device and human administration can be perfect; that that which is the least imperfect is therefore the...
Summarizing the Constitution: Madison to Jefferson, Oct 1787
Liberty Letters, James Madison to Thomas Jefferson
... You will herewith receive the result of the Convention, which continued its Session till the 17th. of...
Impossible Not to Perceive the Finger of that Almighty Hand
LIBERTY LETTERS, JAMES MADISON
Would it be wonderful if, under the pressure of all these difficulties, the convention should have been forced into some deviations...
"Never was an Assembly of Men … More Pure in Their Motives"—Madison
Liberty Letters, James Madison
Whatever may be the judgment pronounced on the competency of the architects of the Constitution, or whatever may be the destiny...
“Never was an Assembly of Men … More Pure in Their Motives”—Madison
Liberty Letters, James Madison
Whatever may be the judgment pronounced on the competency of the architects of the Constitution, or whatever may be the destiny...
Madison to Jefferson on the Need for a More Perfect Union
Liberty Letters, James Madison
On March 18, 1786, James Madison wrote Thomas Jefferson regarding the Constitutional Convention's warm-up, a commercial convention in Annapolis, discussing the...
Madison: Limits on Treaty Making Power
Liberty Letters Quote of the Day, James Madison
I do not conceive that power is given to the President and Senate to dismember the empire,...
If Men Were Angels: James Madison
Liberty Letters Quote of the Day, James Madison
If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external...
Madison: War and the Degeneracy of Manners, Morals & Liberty
Liberty Letters Quote of the Day, James Madison
Of all the enemies to public liberty war is, perhaps, the most to be dreaded, because it...
Madison: War and the Degeneracy of Manners, Morals & Liberty
Liberty Letters Quote of the Day, James Madison
Of all the enemies to public liberty war is, perhaps, the most to be dreaded, because it...
James Madison on a Well Regulated Militia
Liberty Letters, James Madison
A well regulated militia, composed of the body of the people, trained in arms, is the best most natural defense of...
James Madison: On a Just Partition of Power
Liberty Letters, James Madison
It is of great importance in a republic not only to guard the society against the oppression of its rulers, but...
James Madison on the Commerce Clause
Liberty Letters, James Madison, Regarding Article 1, Section 8, Clause 3 (Commerce)
The defect of power in the existing confederacy, to regulate the commerce between...
The Very Definition of Tyranny
Liberty Letters, James Madison, 1788
No political truth is certainly of greater intrinsic value, or is stamped with the authority of more enlightened patrons of...
Gradual and Silent Encroachments
Liberty Letters, James Madison: 1787
Since the general civilization of mankind, I believe there are more instances of the abridgement of freedom of the people...
James Madison: Prudent Jealousy, the First Duty of Citizens
Liberty Letters Quote of the Day, James Madison
It is proper to take alarm at the first experiment on our liberties. We hold this prudent...