Two Quick Constitution Quotes from Thomas Jefferson (from Monticello.org)
Extract from Thomas Jefferson to William Johnson
| Monticello, June 12, 1823. |
on every question of construction, carry ourselves back to the time when the constitution was adopted, recollect the spirit manifested in the debates, & instead of trying what meaning may be squeezed out of the text, or invented against it, conform to the probable one in which it was past.
Extract from Thomas Jefferson to the Tammany Society of Washington
| March 2, 1809. |
aware of the tendency of power to degenerate into abuse, the worthies of our own country have secured it’s independence by the establishment of a constitution & form of Government for our nation calculated to prevent as well as to correct abuse.
Dave Kluge
www.understandtheconstitution.com
Author of The People’s Guide to the United States Constitution. The book presents the original texts of the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, Bill of Rights and all amendments, with enough background, examples, and definitions to easily understand and read straight through these documents.