The constitutions of the United States and of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts are both the work of the people--one of the Union, the other of the State--not of the whole people by the phantom of universal suffrage, but of the whole people by that portion of them capable of contracting for the whole.
Quincy emphasizes the democratic nature of the constitutions, highlighting that they are crafted by the people rather than a mere illusion of universal suffrage.
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If we were bound to do it, we were bound to do it avowedly and above-board.
The rigor of her system already begins to relax, and one year of war to her and peace to us will be more favorable to our interests, and to the final establishment of our principles, than could possibly be effected by twenty years of…
The terms, indeed, in which such a character as Washington has repeatedly expressed himself concerning me, have left me nothing to wish, if they did not alarm me by their very strength.
Adams deemed and maintained, was unconstitutional; and he called upon the supporters of the bill to point out the article, section, or paragraph, of the constitution, which authorized Congress to confer it on the President.
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