John C. Calhoun: Selected Writings and Speeches (Conservative Leadership Series)

"Constitutions stand to governments, as laws do to individuals. As the object of laws is, to regulate and restrain the actions of individuals, so as to prevent one from oppressing or doing violence to another, so, in like manner, that of constitutions is, to regulate and restrain the actions of governments, so that those who exercise its powers, shall not oppress or do violence to the rest of the community."

-John C. Calhoun, Selected Writings and Speeches