What did Past Presidents Say? #1

  

  With Election Day drawing closer, I thought it might be interesting to explore what some of our past Presidents had to say.  It seems appropriate to begin with our first president, George Washington, who was concerned enough by what he called "The common and continual mischiefs of the spirit of party" to sound a warning in his Farewell Address.  The following quote explains the concerns Washington had about the dangers of Americans adhering too closely to political parties rather than judging for themselves after careful consideration.   

Washington warned:  "It agitates the community with ill-founded jealousies and false alarms; kindles the animosity of one part against another; ferments occasionally riot and insurrection.  It opens the door to foreign influence and corruption, which find a facilitated access to the government itself through the channels of party passion.  ...A fire not to be quenched, it demands a uniform vigilance to prevent its bursting into a flame, lest instead of warning, it should consume."

From the time of Washington's presidency to the present, political parties have come and gone, but the power and influence of political parties have remained.  His words continue to deserve consideration. 

    We sometimes forget the bravery of our founding fathers, who literally risked their lives to establish the federal government of the United States of America, and the Constitution that has guided our nation.  One of those men was John Langdon of New Hampshire.  James Madison described Langdon as "a true patriot and a good man, with a noble way of thinking and a frankness and warmth of heart that made his friends love him much, as it did me in a high degree."  While many of us may not recognize his name, his generosity and wisdom have played an important role in the founding of our nation.  He served his state of New Hampshire in many roles, but his words are important in considering the importance of the roles played by both states and our nation.  John Langdon said:  "The General and State Governments are not enemies to each other, but different institutions for the good of the people of America.  As one of the people, I can say the National Government is mine, the State Government is mine.  In transferring power from one to the other, I only take out of my left hand what it cannot so well use, and put it into my right hand where it can be better used."

    I find it very important to reflect on the amazing courage and wisdom of our founding fathers.  On June 19, 2024, I shared A Patriate Sometimes Overlooked, describing the role played by John Marshall in shaping our Supreme Court.  You might enjoy scrolling back to that post. 

    Next week I will post thoughts from other past presidents.