The issue today is the same as it has been throughout all history, whether man shall be allowed to govern himself or be ruled by a small elite.

Creeds have been the bane of the Christian church ... made of Christendom a slaughter-house.

Many of the opposition [to the new Federal Constitution] wish to take from Congress the power of internal taxation. Calculation has convinced me that this would be very mischievous.

The remaining revenue on the consumption of foreign luxuries to domestic comforts, being collected on our seaboard and frontiers only, and incorporated with the transactions of our mercantile citizens, it may be the pleasure and the pride of an American to ask, What farmer, what merchant, what laborer ever sees a tax gatherer of the United States?

Conquest is not in our principles. It is inconsistent with our government.

Where thought is free in its range, we need never fear to hazard what is good in itself.

There is not a single crowned head in Europe whose talents or merit would entitle him to be elected a vestryman by the people of any parish in America.