The Liberty Project US

"If the body of the people will not govern themselves, and govern themselves well too, the consequence is unavoidablea FEW will, and must govern them. Then it is that government becomes truly a government by force only, where men relinquish part of their natural rights to secure the rest, instead of an union of will and force, to protect all their natural rights, which ought to be the foundation of every rightful social compact." John Francis Mercer (A [Maryland] Farmer), Antifederalist No. 3, "New Constitution Creates a National Government, Will not Abate Foreign Influence, Dangers of Civil War and Despotism," Maryland Gazette and Baltimore Advertiser, March 7, 1788

"I beg I may not be understood to infer, that our general convention was divinely inspired when it formed the new federal constitution, merely because that cons...titution has been unreasonably and vehemently opposed; yet I must own, I have so much faith in the general government of the world by PROVIDENCE, that I can hardly conceive a transaction of such momentous importance to the welfare of millions now existing, and to exist in the posterity of a great nation, should be suffered to pass WITHOUT BEING IN SOME DEGREE INFLUENCED, GUIDED and GOVERNED by that omnipotent, omnipresent and beneficent Ruler, in whom all inferior spirits live and move and have their being." [Acts 17:28]." Benjamin Franklin, The Federal Gazette & the Philadelphia Evening Post, April 8th, 1788; Writings 9:702-703

SHARE if you agree