Founder's Quotes - John Jay

Columbia University ^ | 01/14/2007 | Columbia University, others

[Loud Mime]

PING!

[metesky]

Founders bump.

[GregB]

Just started reading The Federalist Papers. Should be required reading in school.

[pissant]

John Jay was a titan. Of course, he was surrounded by such men.

[Loud Mime]

John Jay was a titan. Of course, he was surrounded by such men.

Good Point! But it does make you wonder what happened to "the other guys." You know, the ones who were banging on the windows of the Constitutional Convention and crying to the press about being excluded from the "people's right to know."

I wonder how they kept those idiots at bay.

[A Strict Constructionist]

“Republics are created by the virtue, public spirit, and intelligence of the citizens. They fall, when the wise are banished from the public councils, because they dare to be honest, and the profligate are rewarded, because they flatter the people, in order to betray them.”
Joseph Story, Commentaries on the Constitution, 1833

This quote has never been more true than in this campaign for the Republican nomination.

[pissant]

They kept the windows shut, if I recall, in sweltering heat.

[Loud Mime]

About two years ago I went to a college campus and asked three questions:

What form of government do we have in the United States?
What is the only guarantee in the Constitution?
What are the Federalist Papers?

Only ONE person knew two answers - out of over 100 students.

Virtually every person had no correct answer.

You’re right, they should be a subject of study by every student.

[Redbob]

" I would say that this was not an improvement."

"Understatement of the Day" Nomination here!

[Loud Mime]

They kept the windows shut, if I recall, in sweltering heat.

I doubt if they wore the costumes that the portrait depicted.

[Vaquero]

Was at it the John Jay College Of Criminal Justice (The City University of New York)????

because I have a feeling that, that school foists as much if not more misinformation about our republic as any of the other colleges across the nation.

[Loud Mime]

Actually, it was at Cypress College in Cal-lee-fore-nee-yah, just down the street from where Tiger Woods went to high school.

[CJ Wolf]

Regarding the windows. That was the common thinking that it would prevent Disease, if I recall.

I love that quote about the jury, haven’t seen that before. It would change many outcomes of many trials if it still was practiced.

“The jury has the right to judge both the law as well as the fact in controversy.”
John Jay Georgia v. Brailsford, 1794

[varon]

I love that quote about the jury, haven’t seen that before. It would change many outcomes of many trials if it still was practiced.

Isn't it the same as "Jury Nullification", which is practiced on occasion, today?

[Loud Mime]

If you google "jury nullification" you'll find some interesting sites. One had a "booklet" for jurors.

In addition, I found these quotes:

Men do not make laws. They do but discover them. Laws must be justified by something more than the will of the majority. They must rest on the eternal foundation of righteousness. That state is most fortunate in its form of government which has the aptest instruments for the discovery of law.
Calvin Coolidge, to the Massachusetts State Senate, January 7, 1914

I was summoned for jury duty some years ago, and during voir dire, the attorney asked me whether I could obey the judge's instructions. I answered, "It all depends upon what those instructions are." Irritatingly, the judge asked me to explain myself. I explained that if I were on a jury back in the 1850s, and a person was on trial for violating the Fugitive Slave Act by assisting a runaway slave, I would vote for acquittal regardless of the judge's instructions. The reason is that slavery is unjust and any law supporting it is unjust. Needless to say, I was dismissed from jury duty.
Walter Williams, 11 July 2007

[Loud Mime]

I found the rest:

“A TOAST TO THE FLAG”

(c) by John Jay Daly
of Washington, D. C. (1888-1976)

Here’s to the Red of it –

There’s not a thread of it,
No, nor a shred of it
In all the spread of it,
From foot to head
But heroes bled for it,
Faced steel and lead for it,
Precious blood shed for it,
Bathing it Red!

Here’s to the White of it –

Thrilled by the sight of it,
Who knows the right of it
But feels the might of it
Through day and night?
Womanhood’s care for it
Made manhood dare for it;
Purity’s pray’r for it
Keeps it so White!

Here’s to the Blue of it –

Beauteous view of it,
Heavenly hue of it,
Star-spangled dew of it
Constant and true;
Diadems gleam for it,
Liberty’s beam for it
Brightens the Blue!

Here’s to the Whole of it –

Stars, stripes and pole of it,
Body and soul of it,
O, and the roll of it,
Sun shining through;
Hearts in accord for it
Swear by the sword for it,
Thanking the Lord for it,
Red, White and Blue!

[Lou L]

What is the only guarantee in the Constitution?

Is it a guarantee that I won't be offended by any person, place or thing?

Health-care?

Happiness?

A large-screen HDTV?

I give up...what is it??

/ s

[Greg F]

I loved each and every one of those quotes.

[george76]

bttt

“Republics are created by the virtue, public spirit, and intelligence of the citizens...”