"Our rulers will become corrupt, our people careless... the time
for fixing every essential right on a legal basis is [now] while our
rulers are honest, and ourselves united. From the conclusion of
this war we shall be going downhill. It will not then be necessary
to resort every moment to the people for support.

They will be forgotten, therefore, and their rights disregarded.
They will forget themselves, but in the sole faculty of making
money, and will never think of uniting to effect a due respect for
their rights.

The shackles, therefore, which shall not be knocked off at the
conclusion of this war, will remain on us long, will be made
heavier and heavier, till our rights shall revive or expire in a
convulsion."

- Thomas Jefferson