James Madison, a former Delegate to the Constitutional Convention from the Commonwealth of Virginia, using the pseudonym “Publius,” publishes “Federalist #51,” arguing that the appropriate “separation of powers” will result in “checks and balances” that will preserve liberty.  In paragraph one he writes,

       If men were angels, no government would be necessary.  If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary.  In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men, the great difficulty lies in this: you must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place oblige it to control itself.

       [restored 12/7/2024] Thanks to Kerry Baldwin for this entry.