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

Government is not reason, it is not eloquence, it is force...Never for a moment should it be left to irresponsible action.

It's only natural for unbridled partisanship, unrestrained by allegiance to a greater cause, to lead to chaos.

We are either a United people, or we are not. If the former, let us, in all maters of general concern act as a nation, which have national objects to promote, and a national character to support. If we are not, let us no longer act a farce by pretending to it.

The time is near at hand which must determine whether Americans are to be free men or slaves.

99% of failures come from people who make excuses.

The establishment of our new Government seemed to be the last great experiment for promoting human happiness by reasonable compact in civil society. It was to be, in the first instance, in a considerable degree a government of accommodation as well as a government of Laws. Much was to be done by prudence, much by conciliation, much by firmness.