The cement of this union is in the heart blood of every American. I do not believe there is on earth a government established on so immovable a basis.

History, I believe, furnishes no example of a priest-ridden people maintaining a free civil government.

If I had to choose between government and a free press, I would choose a free press.

The foundation on which (our government is) built is the natural equality of man, the denial of every pre-eminence but that annexed to legal office, and particularly the denial of a pre-eminence by birth.

The mobs of great cities add just so much to the support of pure government as sores do to the strength of the human body.

Nobody can acquire honor by doing what is wrong.

No country and no people can be free and ignorant at the same time.