The personal right to acquire property, which is a natural right, gives to property, when acquired, a right to protection, as a social right.

A distinction of property results from that very protection which a free Government gives to unequal faculties of acquiring it.

In Republics, the great danger is, that the majority may not sufficiently respect the rights of the minority.

Union of religious sentiments begets a surprising confidence.

There is not a more important and fundamental principle in legislation, than that the ways and means ought always to face the public engagements; that our appropriations should ever go hand in hand with our promises. To say that the United States should be answerable for twenty-five millions of dollars without knowing whether the ways and means can be provided, and without knowing whether those who are to succeed us will think with us on the subject, would be rash and unjustifiable. Sir, in my opinion, it would be hazarding the public faith in a manner contrary to every idea of prudence.

A bad cause seldom fails to betray itself.

I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power, than by violent and sudden usurpations; but, on a candid examination of history, we shall find that turbulence, violence, and abuse of power, by the majority trampling on the rights of the minority, have produced factions and commotions, which, in republics, have, more frequently than any other cause, produced despotism.