James Madison
James Madison
James Madison, Jr.was a political theorist, American statesman, and the fourth President of the United States. He is hailed as the "Father of the Constitution" for his pivotal role in drafting and promoting the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionUS President
Date of Birth16 March 1751
CityPort Conway, VA
CountryUnited States of America
army patriotism liberty
An armed and trained militia is the firmest bulwark of republics - that without standing armies their liberty can never be in danger, nor with large ones safe...
military army gun
...to support the Constitution, which is the cement of the Union, as well in its limitations as in its authorities; to respect the rights and authorities reserved to the States and to the people as equally incorporated with and essential to the success of the general system;... to keep within the requisite limits a standing military force, always remembering that an armed and trained militia is the firmest bulwark of republics-that without standing armies their liberty can never be in danger, nor with large ones safe;...
army mischief standing
A standing army is one of the greatest mischief that can possibly happen.
war army government
The Constitution expressly and exclusively vests in the Legislature the power of declaring a state of war [and] the power of raising armies.... A delegation of such powers [to the President] would have struck, not only at the fabric of our Constitution, but at the foundation of all well organized and well checked governments. The separation of the power of declaring war from that of conducting it, is wisely contrived to exclude the danger of its being declared for the sake of its being conducted.
army debt libertarian
Armies, and debts, and taxes are the known instruments for bringing the many under the domination of the few.
inspirational war army
Of all the enemies to public liberty, war is perhaps the most to be dreaded, because it comprises and develops the germ of every other. War is the parent of armies; from these proceed debts and taxes; and armies, debts, and taxes are the known instruments for bringing the many under the domination of the few ... No nation could preserve its freedom in the midst of continual warfare.
army gun government
A government resting on the minority is an aristocracy, not a Republic, and could not be safe with a numerical and physical force against it, without a standing army, an enslaved press and a disarmed populace.
strength peace army
Oppressors can tyrannize only when they achieve a standing army, an enslaved press, and a disarmed populace.
endangered liberty
Liberty may be endangered by the abuses of liberty as well as by the abuses of power.
enemies liberty public war
Of all the enemies of public liberty war is, perhaps, the most to be dreaded.
against charged home provisions
The loss of liberty at home is to be charged to the provisions against danger, real or imagined, from abroad.
certain men ought power
All men having power ought to be distrusted to a certain degree.
advantage almost armed constitution people possess trust
The Constitution preserves the advantage of being armed which Americans possess over the people of almost every other nation where the governments are afraid to trust the people with arms.
acquiring government information means perhaps prologue
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.