You have not been mistaken in supposing my views and feeling to be in favor of the abolition of war. Of my dispos[i]tion to maintain peace until its condition shall be made less tolerable than that of war itself, the world has had proofs, and more, perhaps, than it has approved. I hope it is practicable, by improving the mind and morals of society, to lessen the dispos[i]tion to war; but of its abolition I despair.

A government regulating itself by what is wise and just for the many, uninfluenced by the local and selfish views of the few who direct their affairs, has not been seen, perhaps, on earth. Or if it existed for a moment at the birth of ours, it would not be easy to fix the term of its continuance. Still, I believe it does exist here in a greater degree than anywhere else; and for its growth and continuance... I offer sincere prayers.

The Constitution is a mere thing of wax in the hands of the judiciary, which they may twist and shape into any form they please.

The liberty of the whole earth was depending on the issue of the contest, and was ever such a prize won with so little innocent blood?

The worst day in a man's life is when he sits down and begins thinking about how he can get something for nothing.

I have great confidence in the common sense of mankind in general.

It is every Americans' right and obligation to read and interpret the Constitution for himself.