No duty the Executive had to perform was so trying as to put the right man in the right place.

A rigid economy of the public contributions and absolute interdiction of all useless expenses will go far towards keeping the government honest and unoppressive.

I have seen enough of one war never to wish to see another.

The instability of our laws is really an immense evil. I think it would be well to provide in our constitutions that there shall always be a twelve-month between the ingross-ing a bill & passing it: that it should then be offered to its passage without changing a word: and that if circum-stances should be thought to require a speedier passage, it should take two thirds of both houses instead of a bare majority.

We must train and classify the whole of our male citizens, and make military instruction a regular part of collegiate education.

I have sworn upon the altar of God Eternal, hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man.

Question with boldness even the existence of a God; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason, than that of blind-folded fear.