John Jay

We perceive that a great breach has been made in the moral and physical systems by the introduction of moral and physical evil; how or why, we know not; so, however, it is, and it certainly seems proper that this breach should be closed and order restored.

John Jay (1745-12-12 – 1829-05-17) was an American politician, statesman, revolutionary, diplomat and jurist.

Sourced

• Among the strange things of this world, nothing seems more strange than that men pursuing happiness should knowingly quit the right and take a wrong road, and frequently do what their judgments neither approve nor prefer. Yet so is the fact; and this fact points strongly to the necessity of our being healed, or restored, or regenerated by a power more energetic than any of those which properly belong to the human mind.
  We perceive that a great breach has been made in the moral and physical systems by the introduction of moral and physical evil; how or why, we know not; so, however, it is, and it certainly seems proper that this breach should be closed and order restored. For this purpose only one adequate plan has ever appeared in the world, and that is the Christian dispensation. In this plan I have full faith. Man, in his present state, appears to be a degraded creature; his best gold is mixed with dross, and his best motives are very far from being pure and free from earth and impurity.
  • Letter to Lindley Murray (22 August 1774), as published in The Life of John Jay (1833) by William Jay, Vol. 2, p. 345

• It certainly is very desirable that a pacific disposition should prevail among all nations. The most effectual way of producing it, is by extending the prevalence and influence of the gospel. Real Christians will abstain from violating the rights of others, and therefore will not provoke war.
  Almost all nations have peace or war at the will and pleasure of rulers whom they do not elect, and who are not always wise or virtuous. Providence has given to our people the choice of their rulers, and it is the duty, as well as the privilege and interest, of our Christian nation to select and prefer Christians for their rulers.
  • Letter to John Murray (12 October 1816) as published in The Life of John Jay (1833) by William Jay, Vol. 2, p. 376

Attributed

• Those who own the country ought to govern it.
  • Attributed by son William Jay as a "favourite maxim", in Life and Opinions of John Jay (1833)

External links

• Jay Heritage Center
• Jay's Treaty, Library of Congress
• Federalist #2 Concerning Dangers from Foreign Force and Influence
• Federalist #3 Concerning Dangers from Foreign Force and Influence (continued)
• Federalist #4 Concerning Dangers from Foreign Force and Influence (continued)
• Federalist #5 Concerning Dangers from Foreign Force and Influence (continued)
• Federalist #64 The Powers of the Senate
• John Jay, Supreme Court Historical Society
• U.S. Supreme Court media on John Jay.
• Works by John Jay at Project Gutenberg
• John Jay at MetaLibri
• John Jay bust, by John Frazee (1790-1852), Marble, circa 1831, Size: 24" h., Catalog No. 21.00010, S-141, Old Supreme Court Chamber, U.S. Senate Collection, Office of Senate Curator.
• Essay: John Jay and the Constitution
• The Papers of John Jay
• John Jay Bio