The Creation of the Presidency

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The Creation of the Presidency
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Alexander HamiltonThe country was approaching
the last stage of national humiliation
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George WashingtonThe Confederation was shaken
to its foundation and a half-starved limping
government, that appears to be always moving upon
crutches, and tottering at every step
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James MadisonAmerica finds that she is held
in no respect by her friends that she is the
derision of her enemies and that she is prey to
every nation which has an interest in speculating
on her fluctuating councils and embarassed
affairs.
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James Madison on State Law-makingschemes of
injusticemonuments of deficient wisdom
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George WashingtonOn the Sovereignty of the
States the monster sovereignty thirteen
sovereignties pulling against each other, and all
tugging at the foederal head, will soon bring
ruin on the whole.
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Elbridge GerryOn the Sovereignty of the
StatesThe states were intoxicated with the
idea of their sovereignty
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Alexander HamiltonOn the Sovereignty of the
StatesStates were little jealous, tumultuous
commonwealths, the wretched nurseries of
unceasing discord and the miserable objects of
universal pity or contempt
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On the excesses of DemocracyElbridge Gerry
the worst men get into the legislature men
of indigence, ignorance, and basenessJohn Jay
men who wisdom would have left in
obscurityGeorge Mason debtors to promote
laws that might shelter their delinquencies
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George Washington(in the midst of deliberation
on legislative representation slaveryIn a
word, I almost despair of seeing a favourable
issue to the proceedings of the Convention, and
do therefore repent having had any agency in the
business
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On Fears of Executive Power

• John Dickinson a firm executive could only
  exist in a limited monarchy
• Edmund Randolph The proposed office was a
  foetus of monarchy
• Roger Sherman An executive was the very essence
  of tyranny
• Hugh Williamson This president will be an
  elective King, and will feel the spirit of one.
  He will spare no pains to keep himself in for
  life, and will then lay a train for the
  succession of his children

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