Founders Quotes

Virginia, the two Carolinas and Georgia, may be said to defray three fourths of the annual expense of supporting the federal government; and of this great sum annually furnished by them, nothing, or next to nothing, is returned to them in the shape of government expenditure. - Senator Thomas Hart Benton

The Legitimate acts of government extend only to such acts which are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbour to say their are twenty Gods or no Gods. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg. Thomas Jefferson's "Notes on the State of Virginia"

I saw in State Rights the only availing check upon the absolutism of the sovereign will, and secession filled me with hope, not as the destruction but as the redemption of Democracy. Lord Acton Defending the states right to secede and form their own governments

Great power often corrupts virtue; it invariably renders vice more malignant. In proportion as the powers of government increase, both its own character and that of the people becomes worse. John Taylor of Caroline Explaining why Federal control of medicine is a bad idea

Shall we gather strength by irresolution and inaction? Shall we acquire the means of effectual resistance by lying on our backs and hugging the delusive phantom of hope, until our enemies shall have bound us hand and foot? Patrick Henry 1765 Speech to VA House of Burgesses over that bodies refusal to confront the King's tyranny

Changes in the constitution ought not be lightly made; but when corruption has long infected the legislative, and executive powers: when these pervert the liberties of the people; if THEY tamely submit to such misgovernment, we may fairly conclude, the bulk of that people to be ripe for slavery. Charles Carroll of Carrollton

The powers delegated by the proposed Constitution to the federal government, are few and defined. Those which are to remain in the state governments are numerous and indefinite. James Madison Explaining the new federal government's very limited powers in Federalist 45