Construing Disagreement

The danger of disturbing the public tranquillity by interesting too strongly the public passions is a still more serious objection against a frequent reference of constitutional questions to the decision of the whole society.

—James Madison, Federalist 49

At a time like this, scorching irony, not convincing argument, is needed.

—Frederick Douglass, “What to the Slave is the 4th of July?”