
I have been influenced by what appeared to me to be the most controlling considerations of public policy and the general good.
On the record
Quotes from current and former Presidents.
Current presidents
Former presidents

I have been influenced by what appeared to me to be the most controlling considerations of public policy and the general good.

The country itself, thus obtained, is of incalculable value in an agricultural and commercial point of view.

With equal, if not greater, propriety might the United States demand of other governments to surrender their numerous and valuable acquisitions.

Texas herself wills it; and the Executive of the United States, concurring with her, has seen no sufficient reason to avoid the consummation of an act esteemed to be so desirable by both.

Under every view which I have been able to take of the subject, I think that the interests of our common constituents the people of all the States, and a love of the Union, left the Executive no other alternative than to negotiate the…

I must be permitted to disclaim entirely and unqualifiedly the right on the part of the Executive to make any real or supposed defects existing in any State constitution or form of government the pretext for a failure to enforce the laws…

I utterly repudiate the idea, in terms as emphatic as I can employ, that those laws are not to be enforced or those guaranties complied with because the President may believe that the right of suffrage or any other great popular right is…

I also with equal strength resist the idea that it falls within the Executive competency to decide in controversies of the nature of that which existed in Rhode Island on which side is the majority of the people or as to the extent of the…

I have to inform the House that the Executive did not deem it his duty to interfere with the naval and military forces of the United States

I congratulate the country upon so happy a termination of a condition of things which seemed at one time seriously to threaten the public peace.

For the Executive to assume such a power would be to assume a power of the most dangerous character.

To the Senate: I transmit herewith a communication from the Secretary of the Treasury, to whom I had referred the resolution of the Senate of the 27th December last, showing that the information called for by that resolution can not be…

I transmit herewith copies of the report and papers* referred to in a resolution of the Senate of the 20th of February last.

No reason is perceived for the discrimination recognized by the existing Law, and none why the provisions of the acts of Congress referred to should not be extended to the commerce of the islands in question.

I transmit to the Senate a report from the Secretary of State, with documents, containing the information requested by their resolution of the 23d ultimo.

The communication of this treaty is now made to the end that suitable measures may be adopted to give effect to the first article thereof, which provides for the distribution among the claimants of the sum of $300,000, thereby stipulated…

To the House of Representatives:I transmit herewith a report