This nation was founded by a bunch of hippie-freak-equivalents of the 18th century, who knew how easy it was for an unchecked sovereign to be a tyrant, who knew that questions of religion were between a man and his God, and that salvation couldn't be imposed by a state, it could only be sought out by a person.
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Nothing was more to be desired than that every practicable obstacle should be opposed to cabal, intrigue and corruption. Federalist Paper #68, Alexander Hamilton.
The President of the United States would be liable to be impeached, tried, and upon conviction of treason, bribery, or other high crimes or misdemeanors, removed from office....In this delicate and important circumstance of personal responsibility, the President...would stand upon no better ground than a governor... Federalist Paper #69, Alexander Hamilton.
[In discussing the term of office of the Executive:] It was much agitated whether a long term, seven years for example, with a subsequent and perpetual ineligibility, or a short term, with a capacity to be re-elected, should be fixed. In favor of the first opinion were urged the danger of a gradual degeneracy of re-elections from time to time, into first a life and then hereditary tenure, and the favorable effect of an incapacity to be reappointed on the independent exercise of the Executive authority. On the other side it was contended that the prospect of necessary degradation would discourage the most dignified characters from aspiring to the office; would take away the principal motive to the faithful discharge of its duties--the hope of being rewarded with a reappointment; would stimulate ambition to violent efforts for holding over the Constitutional term; and instead of producing an independent administration and a firmer defense of the constitutional rights of the department, would render the officer more indifferent to the importance of a place which he would soon be obliged to quit forever, and more ready to yield to the encroachments of the Legislature, of which he might again be a member. James Madison, Excerpted from letter to Thomas Jefferson, October 24, 1787.
We know, however, that no society ever did, or can, consist of so homogeneous a mass of Citizens [so as that the interest of the minority and the majority are the same]. James Madison, Excerpted from letter to Thomas Jefferson, October 24, 1787.
The inefficacy of [religion as a] restraint on individuals is well known. The conduct of every popular assembly, acting on oath, the strongest of religious ties, shews that individuals join without remorse in acts against which their consciences would revolt, if proposed to them, separately, in their closets. When, indeed, Religion is kindled into enthusiasm, its force, like that of other passions, is increased by the sympathy of a multitude. But enthusiasm is only a temporary state of Religion, and whilst it lasts will hardly be seen with pleasure at the helm. Even in its coolest state, it has been much oftener a motive to oppression that a restraint from it. James Madison, Excerpted from letter to Thomas Jefferson, October 24, 1787.
For in politics, as in religion, it is equally absurd to aim at making proselytes by fire and sword. Heresies in either can rarely be cured by persecution. Federalist Paper #1, Alexander Hamilton.
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