MORAL LEADERSHIP
On June 5, 1788, Samuel Langdon addressed the New Hampshire legislature. He said: “From year to year be careful in the choice of your representatives and the higher powers (offices) of government. Fix your eyes upon men of good understanding and known honesty; men of knowledge, improved by experience; men who fear God and hate covetousness; who love truth and righteousness, and sincerely wish for the public welfare . . . Let no man openly irreligious and immoral become your legislators . . . For if the legislative body are corrupt, you will soon have bad men for counselors, corrupt judges, unqualified justices, and officers in every department who will dishonor their stations . . . On the people, therefore, of these United States, it depends whether wise men or fools, good or bad men, shall govern . . .”
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