For this reason, when this imputation is made by a leading and prominent paper, that there is on the files of the treasury department a document which reflects upon me, I think it right that it should be published to the world, and then…

If the accusation is true it is the duty of the Senate to examine into the matter.

The report fairly and fully relieved me from the false accusations made against me.

While this investigation imposed a severe labor upon the committee on appropriations, it had a beneficial effect in securing a more careful control over the contingent expenses of the departments, and it silenced the imputations and…

I felt that, as Secretary of the Treasury, I had rendered the country valuable service, that I had dealt with vast sums without receiving the slightest benefit, and at the close was humiliated by charges of petty larceny.

Deeply impressed with the gravity of the responsibilities which have so unexpectedly devolved upon me, it will be my constant purpose to co-operate with you in such measures as will promote the glory of the country and the prosperity of…

I say now, as I said at the commencement, that the passage of this bill seems to me a matter of public duty.

If I did not sometimes change my mind I should consider myself a blockhead or a fool.

Let Congress do now what it proposed to do last year, offer to the people a three per cent. bond.

We are not restrained by any sense of duty, we have the right to take advantage of our improved credit, of our advanced credit, and make the best bargain we can for the people of the United States, and the doctrine is not 'let well enough…

Therefore, the idea of waiting for the committees of Congress to act, is preposterous in my judgment.

I think, then, and I submit it to the good, cool sense and judgment of my friend from Kentucky, that the better way is as early as possible to organize a commission; let it be constituted, as I have no doubt the President will take care to…

We agree that the tariff should be revised and the taxes be reduced.

I prophesy that then we will have a strange mingling of political elements, and a striking evidence of the changes of interest and principle on this subject in different parts of the country, caused by the revolution of the industry of our…

The only mitigation of my desire for a prompt revision of the tariff is the confidence I have that delay and discussion will make the sectional revolution more thorough and universal, and leave the tariff question a purely business and not…

If this Congress shall adjourn, whether the weather be hot or cold, without a reduction of the taxes now imposed upon the people, it will have been derelict in its highest duty.

There is no sentiment in this country stronger now than that Congress has neglected its duty thus far in not repealing taxes that are obnoxious to the people and unnecessary for the public uses; and if we should still neglect that duty we…

If it is desired now to show our virtuous indignation against card-playing, to single out this tax, which probably yields but three or four thousand dollars a year-- to show our virtuous indignation against people who play cards and…

I favored the proper observance of the Sabbath day, claiming that it was a day of rest and should not be desecrated, but each congregation and each citizen should be at liberty to observe it in any way, consistent with good order and…

Touching on the liquor question, I said that many of our young men were brought to disgrace and crime by indulgence in intoxicating liquors, and I therefore believed in regulating the evil.

I was in favor of a law imposing a large tax on all dealers in liquor, which would tend to prevent its use.

I believed in a policy that would protect our own laborers from undue competition with foreign labor, and would increase and develop our home industries.

The Republican party is stronger when it is aggressive.

We surrender some of our natural rights for the security of the rest.

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