A Moral Republic

"Without morals a republic cannot subsist any length of time; they therefore who are decrying the Christian religion, whose morality is so sublime and pure are undermining the solid foundation of morals, the best security for the duration of free governments."
Charles Carroll

Liberty's Teeth

"Firearms are second only to the Constitution in importance; they are the peoples' liberty's teeth."

George Washington

An Asylum on Earth

"Courage, then, my countrymen, our contest is not only whether we ourselves shall be free, but whether there shall be left to mankind an asylum on earth for civil and religious liberty"

Samuel Adams

Second Amendment

"Americans need never fear their government because of the advantage of being armed, which the Americans possess over the people of almost every other nation."

Gouverneur Morris

Arm Yourselves

"A popular Government without popular information or the means of acquiring it, is but a Prologue to a Farce or a Tragedy or perhaps both. Knowledge will forever govern ignorance, and a people who mean to be their own Governors, must arm themselves with the power knowledge gives."

James Madison

Public Weal

"That government is, or ought to be, instituted for the common benefit, protection, and security of the people, nation or community; of all the various modes and forms of government that is best, which is capable of producing the greatest degree of happiness and safety and is most effectually secured against the danger of maladministration; and that, whenever any government shall be found inadequate or contrary to these purposes, a majority of the community hath an indubitable, unalienable, and indefeasible right to reform, alter or abolish it, in such manner as shall be judged most conducive to the public weal"

George Mason; Virginia Declaration of Rights, 1776

Delegated Powers

"The powers delegated to the federal government are few and defined. Those which are to remain in the state governments are numerous and indefinite. The former will be exercised principally on external objects, [such] as war, peace, negotiation, and foreign commerce. The powers reserved to the several states will extend to all the objects which, in the ordinary course of affairs, concern the lives, liberties, and properties of the people."

Sacred Rights

"The sacred rights of mankind are not to be rummaged for among old parchments or musty records. They are written, as with a sunbeam, in the whole volume of human nature, by the hand of the Divinity itself; and can never be erased."

Alexander Hamilton

Gifts from God

"The God who gave us life, gave us liberty at the same time: the hand of force may destroy, but cannot disjoin them."

Thomas Jefferson