United States Founding Fathers

John Dickinson

Quotes

Faith in Jesus Christ

  1. "Rendering thanks to my Creator for my existence and station among His works, for my birth in a country enlightened by the Gospel and enjoying freedom, and for all His other kindnesses, to Him I resign myself, humbly confiding in His goodness and in His mercy through Jesus Christ for the events of eternity." - United States Founding Father, Signer of the Constitution, John Dickinson, "Last Will and Testament"

Original Intent

  1. "Nothing is more certain than that the forms of liberty may be retained when the substance is gone. In government, as well as in religion, "the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life"" - United States Founding Father, Signer of the Constitution, John Dickinson, "The Political Writings of John Dickinson", (Wilmington: Bonsal and Niles, 1801), Vol. I, p. 199

Rights

  1. "Kings or parliaments could not give the rights essential to happiness. ... We claim them from a higher source - from the King of kings, and Lord of all the earth. They are not annexed to us by parchments and seals. They are created in us by the decrees of Providence, which establish the laws of our nature. They are born with us; exist with us; and cannot be taken from us by any human power without taking our lives. In short, they are founded on the immutable maxims of reason and justice. It would be an insult on the Divine Majesty to say that he has given or allowed any man or body of men a right to make me miserable.", (Wilmington: Bonsal and Niles, 1801), Vol. I, p. 111

Security

  1. "Let us take care of our rights and we therein take care of our prosperity. Slavery is ever preceded by sleep" - United States Founding Father, Signer of the Constitution, John Dickinson, "The Political Writings of John Dickinson", (Wilmington: Bonsal and Niles, 1801), Vol. I, p. 277, quoting from Montesquieu, Vol. I, p. 272

Slavery

  1. "As Congress is now to legislate for our extensive territory lately acquired, I pray to Heaven that they may build up the system of the government on the broad, strong, and sound principles of freedom. Curse not the inhabitants of those regions, and of the United States in general with a permission to introduce bondage [slavery]" - United States Founding Father, Signer of the Constitution, John Dickinson, "The Life and Times of John Dickinson", Charles J. Stille, (Philadelphia: J.P. Lippincott Company, 1891), p. 324, to George Logan on January 30, 1804

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