"It is proper to take alarm at the first experiment on our liberties.
We hold this prudent jealousy to be the first duty of citizens,
and one of the noblest characteristics of the late Revolution.
The freeman of America did not wait till usurped power had strengthened
itself by exercise, and entangled the question in precedents.
They saw all the consequences in the principle, and they avoided
the consequences by denying the principle." | by: | James Madison
(1751-1836), Father of the Constitution for the USA, 4th US President |
Source: | "A Memorial and Remonstrance", 1785: Works 1:163 |
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