The fabric of American empire ought to rest on the solid basis of THE CONSENT OF THE PEOPLE. The streams of national power ought to flow immediately from that pure, original fountain of all legitimate authority.

Alexander Hamilton

Federalist 22

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Hamilton, Alexander [published as Publius]. "Federalist No. 22: The Same Subject Continued: Other Defects of the Present Confederation." New York Packet, 14 Dec. 1787.

Current Citation

Hamilton, Alexander. "No. 22: Continuation.--Hamilton." The Federalist: A Commentary on the Constitution of the United States, edited by Robert Scigliano. The Modern Library, 2001.