What students would learn in American schools above all is the religion of Jesus Christ.

Nothing short of self-respect and that justice which is essential to a national character ought to involve us in war.

My manner of living is plain and I do not mean to be put out of it. A glass of wine and a bit of mutton are always ready.

There was not a member of the Constitutional Convention who had the least objection to what is contended for by the advocates for a Bill of Rights and trial by jury.

Bless my family, kindred, friends and country, be our God and guide this day and forever for His sake, who lay down in the grave and arose again for us, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

It is an old adage that honesty is the best policy-this applies to public as well as private life-to States as well as individuals.

The inducements of interest for observing [neutral] conduct . . . has been to endeavour to gain time to our country to settle and mature its yet recent institutions, and to progress without interruption, to that degree of strength and consistency, which is necessary to give it, humanly speaking, the command of its own fortunes.