The petition of persons under eighteen, praying that I would free all slave children, and the heading of which petition it appears you wrote, was handed me a few days since by Senator Sumner. Please tell these little people I am very glad their young hearts are so full of just and generous sympathy, and that, while I have not the power to grant all they ask, I trust they will remember that God has, and that, as it seems, He wills to do it.

America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.

The matter of fees is important, far beyond the mere question of bread and butter involved. Properly attended to, fuller justice is done to both lawyer and client.

Now I confess myself as belonging to that class in the country who contemplate slavery as a moral, social and political evil.

One section of our country believes slavery is right, and ought to be extended, while the other believes it is wrong, and ought not to be extended.

Every man is born an original, but sadly, most men die copies.

Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they will just have to sit on their blisters.