When I die, I desire no better winding sheet than the Stars and Stripes, and no softer pillow than the Constitution of my country.

Tyranny and despotism can be exercised by many, more rigorously, more vigorously, and more severely, than by one.

If you always support the correct principles then you will never get the wrong results!

Duties have been mine; consequences are God's.

There are some who lack confidence in the integrity and capacity of the people to govern themselves. To all who entertain such fears I will most respectfully say that I entertain none. If man is not capable, and is not to be trusted with the government of himself, is he to be trusted with the government of others? Who, then, will govern? The answer must be, Man - for we have no angels in the shape of men, as yet, who are willing to take charge of our political affairs.

It is a damn poor mind indeed which can't think of at least two ways to spell any word.

Outside of the Constitution we have no legal authority more than private citizens, and within it we have only so much as that instrument gives us. This broad principle limits all our functions and applies to all subjects.