Religion and morality are the essential pillars of civil society.

As the first of every thing, in our situation will serve to establish a Precedent, it is devoutly wished on my part, that these precedents may be fixed on true principles.

Arbitrary power is most easily established on the ruins of liberty abused to licentiousness.

I beg you be persuaded that no one would be more zealous than myself to establish effectual barriers against the horrors of spiritual tyranny, and every species of religious persecution.

[L]eave nothing to the uncertainty of procuring a warlike apparatus at the moment of public danger.

I anticipate with pleasing expectations that retreat in which I promise myself to realize, without alloy, the sweet enjoyment of partaking, in the midst of my fellow citizens, the benign influence of good laws under a free government, the ever favorite object of my heart, and the happy reward, as I trust, of our mutual cares, labors, and dangers.

A government is like fire, a handy servant, but a dangerous master.