Fears for Democracy Regarded from the American Point of View |
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Adams adopted agitation amendment American Angloman appointed aristocracy Articles of Confederation authority bill British called century choice citizens civil clause colonies committee Confederate Confederate Congress Congress Congressional Globe Constitution Crittenden debate declared Delaware delegate democracy democratic election electors chosen England ernment Europe Executive power experiment fear federal convention federalists Fort Sumter France Franklin French Georgia give Gouverneur Morris Governor Hamilton honour House of Representatives idea independence influence institutions Jefferson Jersey John Quincy Adams King labour laws less Letter liberty look Madison Papers Massachusetts measures ment minister Missouri Missouri Compromise monarchy National Legislature nays negroes never North Northern opinions party Pennsylvania persons Pinckney political popular population President principle proposed question republic republican revolution secession SECTION Senate Seward slavery slaves society South Carolina Southern Sparks's Washington spirit suffrage territory thought tion Union United Virginia virtue vote
Popular passages
Page 30 - I like much the general idea of framing a government, which should go on of itself, peaceably, without needing continual recurrence to the State legislatures. I like the organization of the government into legislative, judiciary and executive. I like the power given the legislature to levy taxes, and for that reason solely, I approve of the greater House being chosen by the people directly.
Page 263 - That, until the people of said rebel States shall be by law admitted to representation in the Congress of the United States, any civil governments which may exist therein shall be deemed provisional only, and in all respects subject to the paramount authority of the United States at any time to abolish, modify, control, or supersede the same...
Page 36 - But there is a natural inclination in mankind to kingly government. It sometimes relieves them from aristocratic domination. They had rather have one tyrant than five hundred. It gives more of the appearance of equality among citizens ; and that they like. I am apprehensive, therefore, — perhaps too apprehensive, — that the government of these States may in future times end in a monarchy.
Page 215 - MADISON observed that the more he reflected on the use of force, the more he doubted the practicability, the justice, and the efficacy of it when applied to people collectively and not individually. A union of the states containing such an ingredient seemed to provide for its own destruction.
Page 136 - ... and as broad and general as the air, may be united with much abject toil, with great misery, with all the exterior of servitude, liberty looks amongst them like something that is more noble and liberal. I do not mean...
Page 38 - Smaller objections are, the appeals on matters of fact as well as law, and the binding all persons, legislative, executive, and judiciary, by oath to maintain that Constitution. I do not pretend to decide what...
Page 38 - Europe, while the majority are aided by another. The election of a President of America, some years hence, will be much more interesting to certain nations of Europe, than ever the election of a King of Poland was.
Page 38 - ... modern, of elective monarchies, and say, if they do not give foundation for my fears ; the Roman Emperors, the Popes while they were of any importance, the German Emperors till they became hereditary in practice^ the kings of Poland, the Deys of the Ottoman dependencies.
Page 20 - I am sincerely one of those, and would rather be in dependence on Great Britain, properly limited, than on any nation upon earth, or than on no nation. But I am one of those, too, who, rather than submit to the rights of legislating for us, assumed by the British Parliament, and which late experience has shown they will so cruelly exercise, would lend my hand to sink the whole island in the ocean.
Page 225 - My intention here is not to exclude the consent of the people from being one just foundation of government where it has place. It is surely the best and most sacred of any. I only pretend, that it has very seldom had place in any degree, and never almost in its full extent.