Slavery exists. It is black in the South, and white in the North.

Legislation can neither be wise nor just which seeks the welfare of a single interest at the expense and to the injury of many and varied interests.

Tyranny and despotism can be exercised by many, more rigourously, more vigourously, and more severely, than by one.

If the rabble were lopped off at one end and the aristocrats at the other, all would be well with the country.

If I am shot at, I want no man to be in the way of the bullet.

I hold it the duty of the executive to insist upon frugality in the expenditure, and a sparing economy is itself a great national source.

Who, then, will govern? The answer must be, Man - for we have no angels in the shape of men, as yet, who are willing to take charge of our political affairs.

There are no good laws but such as repeal other laws.

Outside of the Constitution we have no legal authority more than private citizens, and within it we have only so much as that instrument gives us. This broad principle limits all our functions and applies to all subjects.