“What country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance. Thomas Jefferson, remark to James Madison, 1787: If I have a wish dearer to my soul than that my ashes may be mingled with those of a Warren and Montgomery, it is that these American States may never cease to be free and independent.Ĩ. For my own part, I ask no greater blessing than to share with you the common danger and common glory. Go on, then, in your generous enterprise with gratitude to Heaven for past success, and confidence of it in the future. Your adversaries are composed of wretches who laugh at the rights of humanity, who turn religion into derision, and would, for higher wages, direct their swords against their leaders or their country. The hearts of your soldiers beat high with the spirit of freedom they are animated with the justice of their cause, and while they grasp their swords can look up to Heaven for assistance. You have now in the field armies sufficient to repel the whole force of your enemies and their base and mercenary auxiliaries. Samuel Adams, American Independence speech, 1776: George Washington, speech to Officers of the Army, 1783:įor if Men are to be precluded from offering their Sentiments on a matter, which may involve the most serious and alarming consequences, that can invite the consideration of Mankind, reason is of no use to us the freedom of Speech may be taken away, and, dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep, to the Slaughter.ħ. Friend, he reigns above, and doth not make havoc of mankind like the Royal Brute of Britain.”Ħ. “ But where, says some, is the King of America? I’ll tell you. Whenever you give up that force, you are inevitably ruined.” Unfortunately, nothing will preserve it but downright force. Suspect everyone who approaches that jewel. “ Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Patrick Henry, speech before the Virginia Ratifying Convention, 1788: When the People once surrender their share in the Legislature, and their Right of defending the Limitations upon the Government, and of resisting every Encroachment upon them, they can never regain it.Ĥ. John Adams, letter to Abigail Adams 1775:īut a Constitution of Government once changed from Freedom, can never be restored. Let us consider the Constitution calmly and dispassionately, and attend to those things only which merit consideration.ģ. If, therefore, on a full and candid discussion, the proposed system shall appear to have that tendency, for God’s sake, let us reject it! But, let us not mistake words for things, nor accept doubtful surmises as the evidence of truth. Yet, however weak our country may be, I hope we shall never sacrifice our liberties. Alexander Hamilton, Speech on the Compromises of the Constitution 1788: But, if I may even flatter myself that they may be productive of some partial benefit, some occasional good that they may now and then recur to moderate the fury of party spirit, to warn against the mischiefs of foreign intrigue, to guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism this hope will be a full recompense for the solicitude for your welfare, by which they have been dictated.Ģ. In offering to you, my countrymen, these counsels of an old and affectionate friend, I dare not hope they will make the strong and lasting impression I could wish that they will control the usual current of the passions, or prevent our nation from running the course which has hitherto marked the destiny of nations. George Washington, Farewell Address 1796: Honor the risk the nation’s earliest patriots took and celebrate Independence Day by remembering some of the most patriotic quotes from America’s Founding Fathers.
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