It is to be regretted that the rich and powerful too often bend the acts of government to their own selfish purposes.
When you get in debt you become a slave.
I am one of those who do not believe that a national debt is a national blessing, but rather a curse to a republic; inasmuch as it is calculated to raise around the administration a moneyed aristocracy dangerous to the liberties of the country.
After eight years as President I have only two regrets: that I have not shot Henry Clay or hanged John C. Calhoun.
This spirit of mob-law is becoming as great an evil as a servile war.
The Supreme Court has made its decision, now let them enforce it.
Live within your means, never be in debt, and by husbanding your money you can always lay it out well.
Peace, above all things, is to be desired, but blood must sometimes be spilled to obtain it on equable and lasting terms.
Heaven will be no heaven to me if I do not meet my wife there.
You must pay the price if you wish to secure the blessings.
The murderer only takes the life of the parent and leaves his character as a goodly heritage to his children, whilst the slanderer takes away his goodly reputation and leaves him a living monument to his children’s disgrace.
The President is the direct representative of the American people and is elected by the people and responsible to them.
There are no necessary evils in government. Its evils exist only in its abuses. If it would confine itself to equal protection, and, as Heaven does its rains, shower its favors alike on the high and the low, the rich and the poor, it would be an unqualified blessing.
You are a den of vipers and thieves. I intend to rout you out, and by the eternal God, I will rout you out.
Freemasonry is an institution calculated to benefit mankind.
John Calhoun, if you secede from my nation I will secede your head from the rest of your body.
You are a den of vipers. I intend to rout you out and by the Eternal God I will rout you out. If the people only understood the rank injustice of our money and banking system, there would be a revolution before morning.
The great can protect themselves, but the poor and humble require the arm and shield of the law.
Freemasonry is a moral order, instituted by virtuous men, with the praiseworthy design of recalling to our remembrance the most sublime truths, in the midst of the most innocent and social pleasures, founded on liberality, brotherly love and charity.
Toward the aborigines of the country no one can indulge a more friendly feeling than myself, or would go further in attempting to reclaim them from their wandering habits and make them a happy, prosperous people.