“The American war is over; but this far from being the case with the American revolution. On the contrary, nothing but the first act of the drama is closed. It remains yet to establish and perfect our new forms of government, and to prepare the principles, morals, and manners of our citizens for these forms of government after they are established and brought to perfection.”
Benjamin Rush, letter to Price, May 25, 1786
“The first and governing maxim in the interpretation of a statute is to discover the meaning of those who made it.”
James Wilson, Of the Study of Law in the United States, Circa 1790
“The known propensity of a democracy is to licentiousness which the ambitious call, and ignorant believe to be liberty.”
Fisher Ames, speech in the Massachusetts Ratifying Convention, January 15, 1788
There is a tradition that, on his return from France, Jefferson called Washington to account at the breadfast-table for having agreed to a second chamber. “Why,” asked Washington, “did you pour that coffee into your saucer?” “To cool it,” quoth Jefferson. “Even so,” said Washington, “we pour legislation into the senatorial saucer to cool it.”
Anonymous, from Farrand’s Records of the Federal Convention of 1787
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