"It is a sound and important principle that the representative ought to be acquainted with the interests and circumstances of his constituents. But this principle can extend no further than to those circumstances and interests to which the authority and care of the representative relate." James Madison, Federalist Paper No. 56

"As there is a degree of depravity in mankind which requires a certain degree of circumspection and distrust, so there are other qualities in human nature which justify a certain portion of esteem and confidence. Republican government presupposes the existence of these qualities in a higher degree than any other form." James Madison, Federalist Paper No. 55

"It is the fundamental principle of the proposed constitution, that as the aggregate number of representatives allotted to the several states, is to be determined by federal rule, founded on the aggregate number of inhabitants; so, the right of choosing this allotted number in each state, is to be exercised by such part of the inhabitants, as the state itself may designate." James Madison, Federalist Paper No. 54

"No man can be a competent legislator, who does not add to an upright intention and a sound judgment, a certain degree of knowledge of the subjects on which he is to legislate." James Madison, Federalist Paper No. 53

"Frequent elections are unquestionably the only policy, by which this dependence and sympathy can be effectually secured." James Madison, Federalist Paper No. 52

"When men exercise their reason coolly and freely on a variety of distinct questions, they inevitably fall into different opinions on some of them. When they are governed by a common passion, their opinions, if they are so to be called, will be the same." James Madison, Federalist Paper No. 50

"As the people are the only legitimate fountain of power, and it is from them that the constitutional charter, under which the several branches of government hold their power, is derived, it seems strictly consonant to the republican theory, to recur to the same original authority, not only whenever it may be necessary to enlarge, diminish, or new-model the powers of the government, but also whenever any one of the departments may commit encroachments on the chartered authori

"For this reason, that convention which passed the ordinance of government, laid its foundation on this basis, that the legislative, executive, and judiciary departments should be separate and distinct, so that no person should exercise the powers of more than one of them at the same time." James Madison, Federalist Paper No. 48

"The accumulation of all power, legislative, executive, and judiciary, in the same hands, whether of one, a few, or many, and whether heredity, self-appointed, or elective, may justly be pronounced the very definition of tyranny." James Madison, Federalist Paper No. 47

"No political truth is certainly of greater intrinsic value, or is stamped with the authority of more enlightened patrons of liberty, than that on which the objection is founded." James Madison, Federalist Paper No.47

"The federal and state governments are in fact but different agents and trustees of the people, instituted with different powers, and designated for different purposes. The adversaries of the constitution seem to have lost site of the people altogether in their reasonings on this subject; and to have viewed these different establishments, not only as mutual rivals and enemies, but as uncontrolled by any common superior, in their efforts to usurp the authorities of each other

"The powers delegated by the proposed constitution to the federal government, are few and defined. Those which are to remain in the state government, are numerous and indefinite." James Madison, Federalist Paper No. 45

"The sober people of America are weary of the fluctuating policy which has directed the public councils. They have seen with regret and with indignation, that sudden changes, and legislative interferences in cases affecting personal rights, become jobs in the hands of enterprising and influential speculators; and snares to the more industrious and less informed part of the community. They have seen, too, that one legislative interference is but the first link of a long chain

"Governments of dissimilar principles and forms, have been found less adapted to a federal coalition of any sort, than those of a kindred nature." James Madison, Federalist No. 43

"But the most minute provisions become important, when they tend to obviate the necessity or the pretext for the gradual and unobserved usurpations of power. " James Madison, Federalist Paper No. 42

"...but the cool and candida people will at once relect, tht th epurest of human blessings must have a portion of alloy in them; that the choice must always be made, if not of the lesser evil, at least of the GREATER, not PERFECT good; and that in every political institution, a power to advance the public happiness, involves a discretion of which may be misapplied and abused." James Madison, Federalist Papers No. 41

"They must have reflected, that in all great changes of established governments, forms ought to give way to substance; that a rigid adherence in such cases to the former, would render nominal and nugatory, the transcendent and precious right of the people to "abolish or alter their governments as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness;"* since it is impossible for the people spontaneously and universally, to move in concert toward their object: an

"It is essential to such a government, that it be derived from the great body of society, not from an inconsiderable proportion, or favoured class of it; otherwise a handful of tyrannical nobles, exercising their oppressions by a delegation of their powers, might aspire to the rank of republicans, and claim for their government the honourable title of republic." James Madison, Federalist Paper No. 39

"Energy in government, is essential to that security against external and internal danger, and to that prompt and salutary execution of the laws, which enter into the very definition of good government." James Madison, Federalist Paper No. 37

"There are strong minds in every walk of life, that will rise superior to the disadvantages of situations, and will command the tribute due to their merit, not only from the classes to which they particularly belong, but from the society in general." Alexander Hamilton, Federalist No. 36