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Quotes from Addresses to the Virginia Ratifying Convention — George Mason

1725–1792 United States

← All quotes by George Mason

7 quotes

Does any man suppose that one general national government can exist in so extensive a country as this?

Addresses to the Virginia Ratifying Convention (1788)

The augmentation of slaves weakens the states; and such a trade is diabolical in itself, and disgraceful to mankind.

Addresses to the Virginia Ratifying Convention (1788)

Under the present government, all ranks of people are subject to militia duty.

Addresses to the Virginia Ratifying Convention (1788)

Why should we not provide against the danger of having our militia, our real and natural strength, destroyed?

Addresses to the Virginia Ratifying Convention (1788)

I ask who are the militia? They consist now of the whole people, except a few public officers. But I cannot say who will be the militia of the future day.

Addresses to the Virginia Ratifying Convention (1788)

No man has greater regard for the military gentlemen than I have. I admire their intrepidity, perseverance, and valour. But when once a standing army is established, in any country, the people lose their liberty.

Addresses to the Virginia Ratifying Convention (1788)

As much as I value a union of all the states, I would not admit the southern states into the union, unless they agreed to the discontinuance of this disgraceful trade because it would bring weakness and not strength to the union.

Addresses to the Virginia Ratifying Convention (1788)

Attribution

Quotes and notes from Wikiquote: George Mason (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0.