Historical voices

How everything is embellished by the feelings of youth, and how beautiful appeared, to my ardent eyes, the bark in which I was to navigate the Mediterranean, when I stepped on board as a sailor for the first time!

We were in danger of growing up with only selfish and mercenary views: nothing was offered us as a reward for anything we could do, but money.

When I recur to the principles which were inculcated at school, and the motives used to encourage us to study, I am now able to understand their unsoundness and their evil tendency.

On that occasion, and in various other circumstances of a similar kind, I never hesitated for a moment, or thought of my own safety.

Although I was quite young and small, I jumped down and saved her life; and my success afforded me the highest pleasure.

Reflecting on the injury I had done to the harmless insect, I was so much affected with grief, that I retired to my chamber, mourned over the poor little creature, weeping bitterly for several hours.

I have in fancy seen her on her knees before the Most High—my dear mother!—imploring for the life of her son; and I have believed in the efficacy of her prayers.

Although certainly not superstitious, often, amidst the most arduous scenes of my tumultuous life, when I have passed unharmed through the breakers of the ocean, or the hail-storms of battle, she has seemed present with me.

Her tender affection for me has, perhaps, been excessive; but do I not owe to her love, to her angel-like character, the little good that belongs to mine?

One of the greatest sorrows of my life is, that I am not able to brighten the last days of my good parent, whose path I have strewed with so many sorrows by my adventurous career.

In mentioning my mother—I speak it with pride—she was a model for mothers; and, in saying this, I have said all that can be said.

I was losing interest in politics when the repeal of the Missouri Compromise aroused me again.

The good old maxims of the Bible are applicable, and truly applicable, to human affairs; and in this, as in other things, we may say that he who is not for us is against us; he who gathereth not with us, scattereth.

They say there are but two ways,--one is to hire men and to allure them to labour by their consent; the other is to buy the men, and drive them to it, and that is slavery.

Labour is the great source from which nearly all, if not all, human comforts and necessities are drawn.

We mean to recognize and bear in mind always, that you have as good hearts in your bosoms as other people, or as we claim to have, and to treat you accordingly.

We mean to remember that you are as good as we; that there is no difference between us other than the difference of circumstances.

We mean to be as deliberate and calm about it as it is possible to be, but as firm and resolved as it is possible for men to be.

We, the Republicans and others forming the opposition of the country, intend "to stand by our guns," to be patient and firm, and in the long run to beat you, whether you take him or not.

If there was a necessary conflict between the white man and the negro, I should be for the white man as much as Judge Douglas; but I say there is no such necessary conflict.

I desire that it should be no further spread in these United States, and I should not object if it should gradually terminate in the whole Union.

I say, then, in the first place to the Kentuckians that I am what they call, as I understand it, a "Black Republican." I think slavery is wrong, morally and politically.

If public sentiment has not been debauched already to this point, a new turn of the screw in that direction is all that is wanting; and this is constantly being done by the teachers of this insidious popular sovereignty.

Public opinion in this country is everything.