The fundamental law of the militia is, that it be created, directed and commanded by the laws, and ever for the support of the laws.

To believe all men honest is folly. To believe none is something worse.

I consider a decent respect for Christianity among the best recommendations for public service.

In politics the middle way is none at all.

When I was young, and addicted to reading, I had heard about dancing on the points of metaphysical needles; but, by mixing in the world, I found the points of political needles finer and sharper than the metaphysical ones.

The proposition that the people are the best keepers of their own liberties is not true. They are the worst conceivable, they are no keepers at all; they can neither judge, act, think, or will, as a political body.

We have no Constitution which functions in the absence of a moral people