Whitelaw Reid: “However men may differ as to our future policy in those regions, there can be no difference as to our present duty.”

Congress is supreme, and, for all the purposes of this department, has all the powers of the people of the United States, except such as have been expressly or by implication reserved in the prohibitions of the Constitution.

Let those who invoke the Supreme Law of the land learn and bow to it.

Give them order and justice, and trust to these to win them in other regards to our ways.

I never saw hands more cheerful or contented than some managed on this last plan were.