Historical voices

Now is the time to exterminate that monster, called party spirit.

The interest, the honor, the ultimate prosperity of the whole country--its reputation and influence in the eyes of the world--demanded that the Government should be supported in its efforts to check the aggressions of foreign nations, and…

But the people of France, shut up in darkness during centuries of misrule, passed at a step from abject servitude to unlimited freedom.

The American colonists had been trained to rational conceptions of freedom, by lessons of wisdom and sagacity read them by their Puritan fathers, and by the experience in self-government, afforded during a century and a half of enjoyment…

The measurable failure of this struggle in France, teaches the necessity of due preparation before a people can advance to the permanent possession and enjoyment of their rights.

No German Prince could now send a man, or a musket, to war against its principles.

Without strength, and activity and vigor of body, the brightest mental excellencies will be eclipsed and obscured.

If we suffer their minds to grovel and creep in infancy, they will grovel and creep all their lives.

It should be your care therefore, and mine, to elevate the minds of our children, and exalt their courage, to accelerate and animate their industry and activity, to excite in them an habitual contempt of meanness, abhorrence of injustice…

The Saracens, the Knights of Malta, the army and navy in the service of the English Republic, among many others, are instances to show to what an exalted height, valor or bravery or courage may be raised, by artificial means.

The virtues and powers to which men may be trained, by early education and constant discipline, are truly sublime and astonishing.

Education makes a greater difference between man and man, than nature has made between man and brute.

Human nature, with all its infirmities and depravation, is still capable of great things.

Sink or swim, live or die, survive or perish with my country is my unalterable determination.

May it not prove, moreover, in that work of reorganization, which now engages the thoughts of all patriotic men, that universal suffrage is the best reconciler of the most comprehensive lenity with the most perfect public security and the…

It has proved, also, that universal suffrage is the surest guarantee and most powerful stimulus of individual, social and political progress.

Our national experience has demonstrated that public order reposes most securely on the broad base of universal suffrage.

In this way they will surely overcome unjust hostility, and convince even the most prejudiced that the denial to them of any right which citizens may properly exercise is equally unwise and wrong.

They should strive for distinction by economy, by industry, by sobriety, by patient perseverance in well-doing, by constant improvement of religious instruction, and by the constant practice of Christian virtues.

They should persist in this claim respectfully, but firmly, taking care to bring no discredit upon it by their own action.

And it is both natural and right that colored Americans, entitled to the rights of citizens, should claim their exercise.

Never was there a problem more serious or difficult than that which is now before the Nation, as to this race, whose destiny has been confided to the wisdom and honor of our Government.

Ordinarily the simple performance of duty is so blessed of God, that men who live in the doing of it, are the best off, in all respects, even in this world.

He who has that right will usually respect himself more, be more respected, perform more, and more productive work, and do more to increase the wealth and welfare of the community, than he who has it not.