My political curiosity, exclusive of my anxious solicitude for the public welfare, leads me to ask who authorized them (the framers of the Constitution) to speak the language of 'We, the People,' instead of 'We, the States'?

The question before the House is one of awful moment to this country. For my own part, I consider it as nothing less than a question of freedom or slavery

Liberty, the greatest of all earthly blessings - give us that precious jewel and you may take everything else!

Give me liberty or give me death.

I believe a time will come when an opportunity will be offered to abolish this lamentable evil.

Have we the means of resisting disciplined armies, when our only defence, the militia, is put in the hands of Congress?

The militia is our ultimate safety. We can have no security without it. The great object is that every man be armed.