By a declaration of rights, I mean one which shall stipulate freedom of religion, freedom of the press, freedom of commerce against monopolies, trial by juries in all cases, no suspensions of the habeas corpus, no standing armies. These are fetters against doing evil which no honest government should decline.

I am a Christian in the only sense in which He wished anyone to be: sincerely attached to His doctrines in preference to all others.

Natural rights [are] the objects for the protection of which society is formed and municipal laws established.

Defend our liberties and fashion into one united people the multitudes brought hither out of many kindred and tongues.

Instead of that liberty which takes root and growth in the progress of reason, if recovered by mere force or accident, it becomes with an unprepared people a tyranny still of the many, the few, or the one.

For if one link in nature's chain might be lost, another might be lost, until the whole of things will vanish by piecemeal.

An informed citizenry is the only true repository of the public will.