"When you become entitled to exercise the right of voting for public officers, let it be impressed on your mind that God commands you to choose for rulers just men who will rule in the fear of God. The preservation of a republican government depends on the faithful discharege of this duty. If the citizens neglect their duty and place unprincipled men in office, the government will soon be corrupted, laws will be made not for the public good so much as for selfish or local purposes..."

Noah Webster, History of the United States, 1832