Edmund Burke: “It is a shame to hear such proofs mentioned, instead of the honest, vigorous scrutiny which the circumstances of such an…”

They have little regard to the obvious consequences of their doctrine, though they may see that it leaves positive authority in very few of the positive institutions of this country.

Who could doubt but that, at any expense to the state, of which they understood nothing, they must pursue their private interests, which they understood but too well?

The engagement and pact of society, which generally goes by the name of the Constitution, forbids such invasion and such surrender.

But supposing they had ranked as they ought to do, and as with us they do actually, the sides of sick-beds are not the academies for forming statesmen and legislators.