"The time is near at hand which must determine whether Americans are to be free men or slaves."

"I had rather be at Mount Vernon with a friend or two about me, than to be attended at the Seat of Government by the whole tribe of office-hunters and place-seekers."

"The Constitution is the guide which I never will abandon."

"No punishment, in my opinion, is too great for the man who can build his greatness upon his country's ruin."

"I am glad to hear that my old acquaintance Colonel Ward is yet under the influence of vigorous passions. I will not ascribe the intrepidity of his late enterprise to a mere flash of desires, because i…"