My great wish is to go on in a strict but silent performance of my duty; to avoid attracting notice, and to keep my name out of the newspapers.

A first attempt to recover the right of self government may fail, so may a second, a third, etc. But as a younger and more instructed race comes on, the sentiment becomes more and more intuitive, and a fourth, a fifth, or some subsequent one of the ever renewed attempts will ultimately succeed... To attain all this, however, rivers of blood must yet flow, and years of desolation pass over; yet the object is worth rivers of blood and years of desolation. For what inheritance so valuable can man leave to his posterity?

My confidence is that there will for a long time be virtue and good sense enough in our countrymen to correct abuses.

Gouverneur Morris had often told me that General Washington believed no more of that system (Christianity) than did he himself.

I deny the power of the general government to making paper money, or anything else a legal tender.

[n regard to Jesus believing himself inspired] This belief carried no more personal imputation than the belief of Socrates that he was under the care and admonition of a guardian demon. And how many of our wisest men still believe in the reality of these inspirations while perfectly sane on all other subjects

The persons and property of our citizens are entitled to the protection of our government in all places where they may lawfully go.