Need help finding a quote

[Icymudpuppy]

I don't remember it exactly or who said it...

It went something like this. "The tools of foreign war are used for domestic tyranny" It might have been Empire abroad, or Tyranny at home, or something like that...

Any help greatly appreciated.

[Anti Federalist]

The means of defense against foreign danger, have been always the instruments of tyranny at home.

James Madison, at the constitutional convention.


Here is the entire quote, in context:



The Debates in the Federal Convention of 1787

by James Madison

FRIDAY JUNE 29th. IN CONVENTION

Constant apprehension of war, has the same tendency to render the head too large for the body. A standing military force, with an overgrown Executive will not long be safe companions to liberty.

The means of defence agst. foreign danger, have been always the instruments of tyranny at home.

Among the Romans it was a standing maxim to excite a war, whenever a revolt was apprehended. Throughout all Europe, the armies kept up under the pretext of defending, have enslaved the people.

It is perhaps questionable, whether the best concerted system of absolute power in Europe cd. maintain itself, in a situation, where no alarms of external danger cd. tame the people to the domestic yoke. The insular situation of G. Britain was the principal cause of her being an exception to the general fate of Europe.

It has rendered less defence necessary, and admitted a kind of defence wch. cd. not be used for the purpose of oppression. — These consequences he conceived ought to be apprehended whether the States should run into a total separation from each other, or shd. enter into partial confederacies. Either event wd. be truly deplorable; & those who might be accessary to either, could never be forgiven by their Country, nor by themselves.

http://www.constitution.org/dfc/dfc_0629.htm

[kcchiefs6465]

The means of defense against foreign danger, have been always the instruments of tyranny at home.

James Madison, at the constitutional convention.
Excellent. +rep (if it lets me)