The division into whig and tory is founded in the nature of men; the weakly and nerveless, the rich and the corrupt, seeing more safety and accessibility in a strong executive; the healthy, firm, and virtuous, feeling confidence in their physical and moral resources, and willing to part with only so much power as is necessary for their good government; and, therefore, to retain the rest in the hands of the many, the division will substantially be into Whig and Tory.

[Oppose] with manly firmness [any] invasions on the rights of the people.

Man [is] a rational animal, endowed by nature with rights and with an innate sense of justice.

There are two amendments only which I am anxious for: 1. A bill of rights, which it is so much the interest of all to have that I conceive it must be yielded...2. The restoring of the principle of necessary rotation, particularly to the Senate and Presidency, but most of all to the last.

The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.

We never repent of having eaten too little.

The second office in the government is honorable and easy; the first is but a splendid misery.