The people from the earliest days were born politicians, vigorous in the defense of their opinions and firm in the maintenance of all their rights.

I concede that all the states, old or new, have contributed to the strength of the republic, the common hope and pride of all American citizens.

Local or state pride is entirely consistent with the most devoted loyalty to the Union.

In intelligence, means of education, temperance, order and religious observance, Ohio may fairly take its place among the most favored communities in the world.

It is a type of what can be accomplished under favorable circumstances by a free people under a free government, where each citizen enjoys the full and undisputed possession of equal rights and opportunities.

The new communities that have been founded in the west are largely composed of the sons and daughters of Ohio, who, following the example of their ancestors, seek new fields for enterprise and industry.

These reforms, and the many changes made in the organization of our state and federal courts, have to a considerable extent lessened the fees and restricted the occupation of lawyers.

But it can be said that the leading members of the legal profession proposed and adopted these reforms, and always advocated any legislation that tended to simplify and cheapen litigation and at the same time protect life, property or…

While these causes were operating against lawyers, agents of nature, hitherto unknown, undiscovered, and wonderful, were being developed, which were to completely revolutionize the methods of travel, the transportation of goods, and the…

Instead of assault and battery cases, suits for slander and the collection of debts, the attention of lawyers was directed to the development of railroads, banking institutions and other corporations.

The construction of railroads caused a most remarkable revolution in the habits and industries of our people.

There is perhaps no more remarkable material development in the history of mankind than that of railroads in the United States since 1845.

The value of these railroads and their dependent warehouses and stations is probably greater to-day than the value of the entire property of the United States in 1840.

Contemporaneous with railroads came the telegraph, the cable, and the telephone.

He gave me several opportunities for testing my qualities before a jury, so that I gradually gained confidence in myself as a speaker.

So far from favoring me on account of my relation to him, he seemed to wish to demonstrate his impartiality by overruling my pleadings or instructing the jury against me.

I got the reputation of being successful by full preparation and a thorough knowledge of the facts and law of the case.

I soon learned that it was better to gain the confidence of a jury by plain talk than by rhetoric.

I have always thought, without any reference to its supposed secrecy, that it is an association of great value, especially in bringing young men under good social influences with men of respectable character and standing.

The general feeling among all classes, and the universal feeling among the Whigs was, that the Mexican War was purposely and unjustly entered upon to extend the institution of slavery.

There is, now, no doubt that such was the object of the war.

I was somewhat tempted to enter the service, though I did not believe in the justice of the war.

Whatever may have been the merits of this war in the beginning, its fruits were undoubtedly of immense value to this country.

Without this war California might, like other provinces of Mexico, have remained undeveloped.

I worked hard that winter, for hard work, I thought, was the way to fortune.