Franklin Pierce: “The storm of frenzy and faction must inevitably dash itself in vain against the unshaken rock of the Constitution.”

Our Government exists under a written compact between sovereign States, uniting for specific objects and with specific grants to their general agent.

There is no condemnation which the voice of freedom will not pronounce upon us should we prove faithless to this great trust.

The heavy expense, the great delay, and, at times, fatality attending travel by either of the Isthmus routes have demonstrated the advantage which would result from interterritorial communication by such safe and rapid means as a railroad…

Let us, then, with redoubled vigilance, be on our guard against yielding to the temptation of the exercise of doubtful powers, even under the pressure of the motives of conceded temporary advantage and apparent temporary expediency.