Franklin Pierce: “The Government, which is trustee in this matter for the people of the States, is bound to take the same wise and…”

I caused full investigation of that event to be made, and the result shows satisfactorily that complete responsibility for what occurred attaches to the Government of New Granada.

We have at length reached that stage of our country's career in which the dangers to be encountered and the exertions to be made are the incidents, not of weakness, but of strength.

To us of this generation remains the not less noble task of maintaining and extending the national power.

Our forefathers were trained to the wisdom which conceived and the courage which achieved independence by the circumstances which surrounded them, and they were thus made capable of the creation of the Republic.