When the American spirit was in its youth, the language of America was different: Liberty, sir, was the primary object.

Show me that age and country where the rights and liberties of the people were placed on the sole chance of their rulers being good men, without a consequent loss of liberty?

We should transmit to posterity our abhorrence of slavery.

Caesar had his Brutus, Charles the First his Cromwell; and George the Third — ['Treason!' cried the Speaker] — may profit by their example. If this be treason, make the most of it.

Are we at last brought to such an humiliating and debasing degradation, that we cannot be trusted with arms for our defense?

It is when a people forget God, that tyrants forge their chains.

The first thing I have at heart is American liberty; the second thing is American union.