Can any reasonable man be well disposed toward a government which makes war and carnage the only means of supporting itself?

Why has government been instituted at all? Because the passions of man will not conform to the dictates of reason and justice without constraint.

All communities divide themselves into the few and the many. The first are the rich and well born, the other the mass of the people. The voice of the people has been said to be the voice of God; and however generally this maxim has been quoted and believed, it is not true in fact. The people are turbulent and changing; they seldom judge or determine right. Give therefore to the first class a distinct, permanent share in the government.

In so strong a light, nevertheless, do they appear to the Secretary, that, on their due observance, at the present critical juncture, materially depend, in his judgment, the individual and aggregate prosperity of the citizens of the United States; their relief from the embarrassments they now experience; their character as a people; the cause of good government.

Nothing could be more ill-judged than that intolerant spirit which has, at all times, characterized political parties.

Little more can reasonably be aimed at with respect to the people at large than to have them properly armed.

Some reasonable term ought to be allowed to enable aliens to get rid of foreign and acquire American attachments; to learn the principles and imbibe the spirit of our government; and to admit of a probability at least, of their feeling a real interest in our affairs.