De Alexander

The absence of violent democratic innovations was the Constitution's remarkable feature.

As it became known to the country, it was cordially approved as the most excellent and liberal of the American constitutions.

Otherwise, New York would probably have had the distinction of being first to set the example of freedom.

They had well-formed notions of a popular government, and their replies to proposed changes broke the force of the opposition.

The spirit that nerved a handful of men to embargo vessels and seize munitions of war covered by British guns never wanted courage, and this historic band now prepared to resist a conservatism that seemed disposed simply to change the name…

The anomaly of the Constitution was the absence of provision for the judicature, the third co-ordinate branch of the government.

When, finally, the Council of Appointment set up the claim that the right to nominate was vested concurrently in the governor and in each of the four senators, it practically stripped the chief executive of power.

But in practice it subordinated the governor to the Council whenever a majority of the Assembly was politically opposed to him, and the annual election of the Council greatly increased the chances of such opposition.

Their disposition was to be despotic, and to prevent a repetition of such arbitrary conduct, Jay sought to restrict the governor's power in making appointments to civil office.

To go no farther back than Lord Cornbury, the dissolute cousin of Queen Anne, not one in the long list, covering nearly a century, exhibited gifts fitting him for the government of a spirited and intelligent people, or made the slightest…

The only governors with whom Jay had had any experience were British governors, and the story of their rule was a story of astonishing mistakes and vexing stupidities.

The proposition that no authority should be exercised over the people except such as came from the people necessarily opened the door to an election of the governor by the people; but how to restrict his power seems to have taxed Jay's…

The qualifications of those who might vote for members of the Legislature greatly restricted suffrage.

Of all the men of that busy and brilliant age, no one advanced more steadily in the general knowledge and favour.

When he took up the work of organisation, therefore, it was with no wish to become a leader; he simply desired to guide the spirit of resistance along orderly and forceful lines.

He did not accept office because he loved it.

Where danger called, or civic duties demanded prudence and profound sagacity, this band of patriots appeared in council and in the camp, ready to answer to the roll-call of their country, and by voice and vote set the pace which achieved…

These men passed into history in companies, but each left behind his own trail of light.

Nevertheless, the Provincial Congress, whose members had been trained by harsh experience to be stubborn in defence and sturdy in defiance, declined to assume the responsibility of forming such a government as the Continental Congress…

The trouble between England and America had grown out of the need for a continental revenue and the lack of a continental government with taxing power--a weakness experienced throughout the Revolution and under the Confederation.

This usurpation by one committee of powers that had been exercised by another, caused the liveliest indignation.