Quote#Politics & Power
The government of the United States is a definite government,…
Quote byJames Madison · 1751–1836
Commonly attributed — not confirmed in an authoritative edition. Cited on Wikiquote to: Speech, House of Representatives, during the debate "On the Memorial of the Relief Committee of Baltimore, for the Relief of St. Domingo Refugees" (10 January 1794).
English (original)
The government of the United States is a definite government, confined to specified objects. It is not like the state governments, whose powers are more general. Charity is no part of the legislative duty of the government.
— James Madison
More from James Madison
It is impossible for the man of pious reflection not to perceive in it the finger of that Almighty Hand which has been so frequently and signally extended to our relief in the critical stages of the Revolution.
On a view of all circumstances I have judged it most prudent not to force Billey back to Virginia even if it could be done
A watchful eye must be kept on ourselves lest while we are building ideal monuments of Renown and Bliss here we neglect to have our names enrolled in the Annals of Heaven.
Religious bondage shackles and debilitates the mind and unfits it for every noble enterprize, every expanded prospect.
Would it not be as well to liberate and make soldiers at once of the blacks themselves, as to make them instruments for enlisting white soldiers? It would certainly be more consonant to the principles of liberty which ought never to be …
I do not expect to get near the worth of him; but cannot think of punishing him by transportation merely for coveting that liberty for which we have paid the prices of so much blood, and have proclaimed so often to be the right, and worthy …