User:Wabash Canoe/Quotes

Interesting quotes that might be added to articles:

For Northwest Ordinance:

"I doubt whether one single law of any law-giver, ancient or modern, has produced effects of more distinct, marked, and lasting character that the Ordinance of 1787." Daniel Webster on p.206 in The Critical Period of American History, 1783–1789 by John Fiske (1888)

For Annapolis Convention (1786):

"to meet at Philadelphia on the second Monday in May next, to take into consideration the situation of the United States, to devise such further provisions as shall appear to them necessary to render the constitution of the Federal Government adequate to the exigencies of the Union; and to report such an Act for that purpose to the United States in Congress assembled, as when agreed to, by them, and afterwards confirmed by the Legislatures of every State, will effectually provide for the same." Report from the Annapolis Convention written by Alexander Hamilton from Annapolis Convention Resolution

For unknown:

"The foundation of our Empire was not laid in the gloomy age of Ignorance and Superstition, but at an Epocha when the rights of mankind were better understood and more clearly defined, than at any former period, the researches of the human mind, after social happiness, have been carried to a great extent, the Treasures of knowledge, acquired by the labours of Philosophers, Sages and Legislatures, through a long succession of years, are laid open for our use, and their collected wisdom may be happily applied in the Establishment of our forms of Government; the free cultivation of Letters, the unbounded extension of Commerce, the progressive refinement of Manners, the growing liberality of sentiment, and above all, the pure and benign light of Revelation, have had ameliorating influence on mankind and increased the blessings of Society. At this auspicious period, the United States came into existence as a Nation, and if their Citizens should not be completely free and happy, the fault will be intirely their own." George Washington in "Circular Letter to the States", The Writings of George Washington from the Original Manuscript Sources 1745-1799, edited by John C. Fitzpatrick, 1944

For several, concerning the problems of the Articles:

"a half-starved, limping Government that appears to be always moving upon crutches, and tottering at every step." George Washington on the Confederation Congress found on page 7 in The Summer of 1787, by David O. Stewart; Letter to Gov. Benjamin Harrison