George Boutwell

Washington had gained much by demonstrating his capacity for civil affairs, by the legacy of his farewell address, and by the shaping of the new government under the Constitution in a manner calculated to strengthen the quality of…

Then Jackson, who had gained something--indeed, a good deal by his defence of the Union when compared with what he might have lost by neglect of duty in the days of nullification.

The field of his success is to be found in the argumentative power that he possessed and in its use for the overthrow of slavery.

His declaration as to the status of the States that had been in rebellion was not far away from the policy that was adopted finally, but he did not accept as wise and necessary measures the amendments to the Constitution which were…

He could not concede small points for the sake of a great result.

The chief assurance for any considerable well-doing in the world is to be found in good purposes and in fixedness of purpose when a purpose has been formed.

Above all things else of a public nature, he cherished the good name of the commonwealth, and for himself there was nothing more precious than her approval.

Our conversations concerning General Grant were resumed free from all restrictions, and without any disturbance of feeling on my part.

Sumner, and without accepting a seat, I said: "Senator, if you ever mention General Grant's name in my presence, I will never again cross your threshold.

I said only in reply: "I am the custodian of my own duty.

Good government can be secured only through conferences with those who are responsible, by conciliation, and not infrequently by concessions to the holders of adverse opinions.

Such a condition of affairs is always a hindrance in the way of good government, and it may become an obstacle to success.

They do not claim to speak authoritatively, but as members of the Government having a right to advise, and under a certain responsibility to the people for what may be done.

They claim, what from the beginning they have enjoyed, the right to be heard by the President and the heads of departments in their respective States.

More than elsewhere the seat of power is in the Senate, and the Senate and Senators are careful to exact a recognition of their rights.

By the decision the Government was shorn of a part of its financial means of defence in an exigency.

As to myself, I had never accepted the original decision as sound law under the Constitution, nor as a wise public policy, if there had been no Constitution.

Weed gave me information in regard to candidates for office in the State of New York, including their relations to the factions that existed--usually Seward and anti-Seward--and with as much fairness as he could have commanded if he had…

A more effectual bar was in the reason on which the statutes rested, namely, that no man should be put in a situation to be a judge in his own cause.

He had weaknesses, and of some of them I may speak; but they do not qualify in any essential manner his claim to greatness in the particulars named.

This proposition, which would have been advantageous to the banks, in an increasing ratio as the value of money diminished, was defeated by the organized opposition of the banks through an effective lobby that was assembled in the city of…

Indeed, one may go still further, and say that it is not safe to trust the guidance of the Government in financial affairs to men whose life business it has been to convert information into gold.

These extracts from letters received previous to and during the crisis may lead to the conclusion that it is not safe to trust to persons engaged in large business and commercial transactions as guides for the administration of the…

As I have already said, I had no purpose to help anybody or to hurt anybody, and I interfered in Wall Street only when the operations that were going on there involved innocent parties who were engaged in legitimate business, and also…

In my judgment, the Government cannot afford to sell gold during the next three months while the crops are being marketed, and if such a policy were announced, it would immediately cause a high export of bread- stuffs and an active fall…