Quote#Politics & Power
A power has risen up in the government greater than the people…
Quote byJohn C. Calhoun · 1782–1850
Commonly attributed — not confirmed in an authoritative edition. Cited on Wikiquote to: Speech (27 May 1836); this is the source of the phrase, "Cohesive power of public plunder".
English (original)
A power has risen up in the government greater than the people themselves, consisting of many and various and powerful interests, combined into one mass, and held together by the cohesive power of the vast surplus in the banks.
— John C. Calhoun
More from John C. Calhoun
The Government of the absolute majority instead of the Government of the people is but the Government of the strongest interests; and when not efficiently checked, it is the most tyrannical and oppressive that can be devised.
The neighboring tribes are becoming daily less warlike, and more helpless and dependent on us … [T]hey have, in a great measure, ceased to be an object of terror, and have become that of commiseration.
it will be impossible to deny to the states the right of deciding on the infraction of their rights, and the proper remedy to be applied for the correction
the sovereign power is divided between the states and general government
Protection and patriotism are reciprocal.
The very essence of a free government consists in considering offices as public trusts, bestowed for the good of the country, and not for the benefit of an individual or a party.