If forced to choose between the penitentiary and the White House for four years, I would say the penitentiary, thank you.

I see every chance of a long, confused and disorganizing civil war, and I feel no desire to take a hand therein.

We cannot change the hearts of the people of the South, but we can make war so terrible that they will realize the fact that however brave and gallant and devoted to their country still they are mortal and should exhaust all peaceful remedies before they fly to war.

We can make war so terrible and make them so sick of war that generations pass away before they again appeal to it.

I beg to present you as a Christmas gift the city of Savannah.

You may as well say, 'That's a valiant flea that dare eat his breakfast on the lip of a lion.

I want peace, and believe it can only be reached through union and war, and I will ever conduct war with a view to perfect an early success.