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Praise for Abraham Lincoln: Quotes, Quips, and Speeches “An easy and enjoyable introduction to one of America’s greatest presidents and heroes.” —Tom Schwartz, historian emeritus for the state of Illinois
“Gordon Leidner provides readers with a toothsome smorgasbord of Abraham Lincoln’s wit and wisdom. This volume is an excellent introduction to the Great Emancipator’s humanity, philosophy, humor, and eloquence. To supplement Lincoln’s own memorable words, Leidner adds judicious comments by such eminent figures as Frederick Douglass, Theodore Roosevelt, and Booker T. Washington.” —Michael Burlingame, Chancellor Naomi B. Lynn Distinguished Chair in Lincoln Studies, University of Illinois Springfield
“Abraham Lincoln had the God-given talent to express himself in words that the people felt and understood. [This] book enables readers to sample and touch the greatness of Lincoln through his letters, public papers, and speeches.” —Edwin C. Bearss, historian emeritus, National Park Service
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The
Founding
Fathers
Quotes, Quips, and Speeches
Gordon Leidner Editor
Cumberland House
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Copyright © 2013 by Gordon Leidner Cover and internal design © 2013 by Sourcebooks, Inc. Cover image © Declaration of Independence by John Trumbull, 1817, public domain Sourcebooks and the colophon are registered trademarks of Sourcebooks, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems—except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews—without permission in writing from its publisher, Sourcebooks, Inc. All photos courtesy of the Library of Congress. This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter covered. It is sold with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or other professional service. If legal advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional person should be sought. —From a Declaration of Principles Jointly Adopted by a Committee of the American Bar Association and a Committee of Publishers and Associations Published by Cumberland House, an imprint of Sourcebooks, Inc. P.O. Box 4410, Naperville, Illinois 60567-4410 (630) 961-3900 Fax: (630) 961-2168 www.sourcebooks.com Library of Congress Cataloguing-in-Publication data is on file with the publisher. Printed and bound in the United States of America. BG 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
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To our grandchildren
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Contents Preface ix Background xiii 1 The Revolution 1 2 The Rebellion 17 3 Liberty! 31 4 A More Perfect Union 45 5 Faith 57 6 The People 73 7 Character 87 8 Wisdom for the Ages 101 The Declaration of Independence 115 Samuel Adams’s Speech to the Constitutional Convention in 1776 121 General Washington’s Speech of Resignation from the Army in 1783 125 President Washington’s Thanksgiving Proclamation of 1789 129 The Bill of Rights 133 Endnotes 139 Online Resources 153 About the Editor 157
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Preface The Founding Fathers of the United States
of America led a revolution that was truly unique in world history. Prior to the establishment of the United States, the majority of the nations of the world had been ruled by monarchies or oligarchies. Democratic governments had been few, and virtually all of them had failed. The voices of the common people were rarely heard or heeded. The Founding Fathers: Quotes, Quips, and Speeches narrates the Revolution story through the words of men who respected the abilities of the common people. The majority of the quotes are from men who are generally recognized as the primary Founding Fathers of the United States: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Patrick Henry, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Paine. There are also several quotes
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x Preface
from other men who are frequently recognized as founders, such as Samuel Adams, John Jay, Gouverneur Morris, and George Mason. Also included are a few quotes from American soldiers who, in risking their lives, made their invaluable contribution to the success of the Rebellion. To help explain the context of the Revolution, there are a handful of quotes from British generals and political leaders. The Founders created three world-Âchanging documents: the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. Excerpts of the Declaration of Independence and the entire Bill of Rights are included, along with selected speeches, at the end of the book. Each chapter begins with a short introduction to provide some background for the quotes that follow. To improve the quotesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; readability, minor changes were sometimes made to correct capitalization and punctuation errors, but spelling errors were usually left unchanged. The Internet offers many popular quotes attributed to the Founding Fathers that are, in fact, spurious. A sincere effort was made
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Preface xi
to make certain that erroneous quotes are not included, as evidenced by the endnotes in the back of the book. I hope the reader derives as much pleasure in reading the original words of the Founders as I had in assembling them. You are invited to enter into the “Spirit of ’76” and hear the voices of people who changed the world. —Gordon Leidner
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Background The seeds of the American Revolution began
germinating in the early 1760s, after Britain defeated France in what is known in America as the French and Indian War. Under the pretext that the colonies should pay a larger proportion of the costs of their defense, Parliament sought to increase British authority by imposing a series of new laws, duties, and taxes. Beginning with the Stamp Act of 1765 and continuing with the Quartering Act, the Townsend Acts, and finally a series of laws that became known as the Intolerable Acts, the decade after the end of the French and Indian War became one of increasing animosity between Great Britain and her subjects in the American colonies. Since America lacked official representation in the British Parliament, many colonists considered these laws to be an egregious violation of their rights as Englishmen. Colonists became
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xiv Background
increasingly hostile to the actions of British- appointed governors and judiciary, believing they were too willing to sacrifice justice on behalf of the King. The influence of the Church of England was also seen as unfair, and American Baptist, Congregationalist, and Presbyterian ministers became more outspoken in their criticism of government-sanctioned religion. Impatient with Parliament’s imposition of authority, American colonists elected the First Continental Congress in 1774 and appealed to King George III for his intervention. These appeals were ignored. Conflict broke out between American militia and British troops on April 19, 1775, in skirmishes at Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts. Two months later, the Continental Congress commissioned George Washington commander in chief of the Continental Army, and the Battle of Bunker Hill in Boston became the first major military engagement between British and American forces. Finally, in October 1775, George III declared the colonies “in rebellion” and the members of Congress traitors. On July 4, 1776, the representatives from
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Background xv
the thirteen colonies of the Second Continental Congress approved the Declaration of Independence, permanently severing ties with Great Britain and proclaiming the United States of America as a sovereign nation. However, inherent weaknesses of the Continental Congress became obvious as the Revolutionary War progressed. The Congress had no authority to obtain revenue through taxes, regulate trade, or enforce treaties. These limitations resulted in a highly inflationary economy and an inability to pay the nation’s bills, including the wages for American soldiers. The nascent American army, under the gifted leadership skills of George Washington, fought surprisingly well. In spite of being frequently outnumbered, poorly supplied, and up against one of the world’s strongest military powers, they successfully fought a war of attrition that lasted nearly eight years. Washington’s talents were challenged by the perpetual need for recruitment and supply of troops, the necessity of avoiding battles of annihilation by superior British armies, and the petty politics of Congress. Although suffering numerous
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xvi Background
military defeats, Washington, the armies under his command, and America’s French allies gained a number of strategic victories. These included the battles of Trenton and Princeton, New Jersey, in 1776; Saratoga, New York, in 1777; and Yorktown, Virginia, in 1781. The latter two battles resulted in the surrender of two entire British armies. After British General Cornwallis’s surrender at Yorktown in October 1781, it became obvious to Britain that they could not defeat America militarily. Britain accepted the terms of the Treaty of Paris on September 3, 1783, officially ending the Revolutionary War and recognizing the United States as an independent nation. At war’s end, the Continental Congress was the sole organ of the national government. In addition to the shortcomings previously mentioned, it had neither a national court to interpret laws nor an executive branch to enforce them. These weaknesses made it obvious to American political leaders that the establishment of a stronger central government with expanded powers was critical to the survival of the nation.
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Background xvii
Twelve of thirteen state legislatures sent delegates to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in May 1787. George Washington presided over this convention, and many of the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most gifted leaders, including James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and Benjamin Franklin, hammered out the Constitution over the ensuing weeks. Questions over a strong central government versus statesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; rights and how the power in federal government should be shared were vigorously debated. The result was a centralized form of government that divided power between three branches: legislative, judicial, and executive. The federal government gained the essential powers that the Continental Congress had lacked, and the states retained a large degree of autonomy. Thirty-Ân ine delegates of the Convention signed the Constitution on September 17, 1787, and sent it to the states for ratification. During the ensuing months, the Constitution was hotly debated by Federalists, who supported it, and Antifederalists, who did not. Federalist leaders James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay anonymously wrote a series of
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xviii Background
eighty-足five articles, which are known today as The Federalist Papers, promoting its ratification. The Federalist arguments prevailed when eleven states ratified the Constitution, and it went into effect March 4, 1789. Concerned with limiting the power of the government and securing the liberty of citizens, many of the states had ratified the Constitution contingent on the adoption of a bill of rights. Pursuant to this, James Madison proposed twelve amendments. Ten of these were ratified by the states, and their adoption was certified December 15, 1791. These first ten amendments are known today as the Bill of Rights. The Constitution is the oldest written charter of organic law of any major government in the world. In over two hundred years of its existence, only seventeen additional amendments have been passed subsequent to the Bill of Rights. Noteworthy is the fact that, originally, the Bill of Rights implicitly excluded the rights of Native Americans, African Americans, and women. These omissions would later result in war and significant civil strife in America.
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1
The Revolution The American Revolution took place in the
hearts and minds of the people long before the first shots were fired. Their leaders had inspired them with visions of independence from monarchical rule—a type of government they frequently called “tyranny.” Americans became skeptical of the British government’s integrity and suspected that neither the King, Parliament, nor the Royal Governors had their best interests at heart. Nevertheless, allegiance to the Crown died hard. Despite unpopular taxes, forced quartering of troops, and actions of a judiciary system that gave preferential treatment to loyalist officials, the Continental Congress made more than one effort to appeal to the King. When George III decided to send more troops to enforce the law, the kindling for the fire was placed. It needed only a spark to start a war.
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HHH
But what do we mean by the American
Revolution? Do we mean the American war? The Revolution was effected before the war commenced. The Revolution was in the minds and hearts of the people; a change in their religious sentiments, of their duties and obligations…This radical change in the principles, opinions, sentiments, and affections of the people was the real American Revolution.1 —John Adams
III
Our petitions have been slighted; our remon-
strances have produced additional violence and insult; our supplications have been disregarded; and we have been spurned, with contempt, from the foot of the throne!2 —Patrick Henry
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The Revolution 3
B
elieve me, dear Sir: there is not in the British empire a man who more cordially loves a union with Great Britain than I do. But, by the God that made me, I will cease to exist before I yield to a connection on such terms as the British Parliament propose; and in this, I think I speak the sentiments of America.3 —Thomas Jefferson
III
It has been said that…the King, his ministry,
and Parliament, will not endure to hear the Americans talk of their rights. But Americans will not endure in silence the slow erosion of those freedoms which make them proud of the name of Englishmen.4 —John Adams
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W
e have…given Britain one more chance, one opportunity more, of recovering the friendship of the colonies; which, however, I think she has not sense enough to embrace, and so I conclude she has lost them forever.5 —Benjamin Franklin
III
We have boasted the protection of Great
Britain, without considering that her motive was interest not attachment; that she did not protect us from our enemies on our account, but from her enemies on her own account.6 —Thomas Paine
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T
he [British] covenanted with the first settlers of this country, that we should enjoy all the Libertys of free natural born subjects of Great Britain. They were not contented to have all the benefits of our trade, in short to have all our earnings, but they wanted to make us hewers of wood and drawers of water. Their Parliament have declared that they will have a right to tax us & Legislate for us, in all cases whatever— now certainly if they have a right to take one shilling from us without our consent, they have a right to all we possess; for it is the birthright of an Englishman, not to be taxed without consent of himself, or representatives.7 —Paul Revere
III
Caesar had his Brutus; Charles the First his
Cromwell; and [King] George the Third may profit by their example.8 —Patrick Henry
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I
t is inconsistent with the spirit of the common law and of the essential fundamental principles of the British constitution that we should be subject to any tax imposed by the British Parliament; because we are not represented in that assembly.9 —John Adams
III
Resistance to tyranny becomes the Christian
and social duty of each individual…Continue steadfast and, with a proper sense of your dependence on God, nobly defend those rights which heaven gave, and no man ought to take from us.10 —John Hancock
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Patrick Henry (May 29, 1736–June 6, 1799)
Patrick Henry was an attorney, politician, sol-
dier, planter, and one of the most inspiring orators of the revolutionary era. He was a leader in the opposition to the Stamp Act of 1765, and shortly before the war began, his famous “give
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The Founding Fathers
me liberty or give me death!” speech was inspirational in the Virginia House of Burgesses’ decision to contribute troops to the war effort. Henry served two terms as postcolonial governor of Virginia, which was his highest political office. A strong Antifederalist and proponent of states’ rights, Henry opposed the adoption of the U.S. Constitution because he thought it gave too much power to the federal government. Concerned for the rights of individuals, he helped in the adoption of the Bill of Rights. Thomas Jefferson summed up Henry’s talents when he said of him: “He spoke as Homer wrote.”11 HHH
F
or God’s sake, let us come to a final separation…The birthday of a new world is at hand.12 —Thomas Paine
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T
he Eyes of all our Countrymen are now upon us, and we shall have their blessings, and praises, if happily we are the instruments of saving them from the Tyranny mediated against them. Let us therefore animate and encourage each other, and shew the whole world, that a Freeman contending for liberty on his own ground is superior to any slavish mercenary on earth.13 —George Washington
III
O
bjects of the most stupendous magnitude, and measure in which the lives and liberties of millions yet unborn are intimately interested, are now before us. We are in the very midst of a revolution the most complete, unexpected and remarkable of any in the history of nations.14 —John Adams
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Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God.
15
—Thomas Jefferson
III
All men have a right to remain in a state of
nature as long as they please; and in case of intolerable oppression, civil or religious, to leave the society they belong to, and enter into another.16 —Samuel Adams
III
Everything that is right or reasonable pleads for
separation. The blood of the slain, the weeping voice of nature cries, ’tis time to part!17 —Thomas Paine
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Shall we gather strength by irresolution and
inaction? Shall we acquire the means of effectual resistance by lying supinely on our backs, and hugging the delusive phantom of hope, until our enemies shall have bound us hand and foot? Sir, we are not weak, if we make a proper use of those means which the God of nature has placed in our power.”18 —Patrick Henry
III
I
f there must be trouble, let it be in my day, that my child may have peace.19 —Thomas Paine
III
T
he God who gave us life, gave us liberty at the same time; the hand of force may destroy, but cannot disjoin them.20 —Thomas Jefferson
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Liberty must at all hazards be supported. We
have a right to it, derived from our Maker. But if we had not, our fathers have earned and bought it for us, at the expense of their ease, their estates, their pleasure, and their blood.21 —John Adams
III
It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter.
Gentlemen may cry, peace, peace—but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God. I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!22 —Patrick Henry
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T
he sacred rights of mankind are not to be rummaged for, among old parchments, or musty records. They are written, as with a sun beam, in the whole volume of human nature, by the hand of the divinity itself; and can never be erased or obscured by mortal power.23 —Alexander Hamilton
III
B
ut where; say some, is the King of America? I’ll tell you, friend, He reigns above.24 —Thomas Paine
III
T
he right to freedom being the gift of God Almighty, it is not in the power of man to alienate this gift and voluntarily become a slave.25 —Samuel Adams
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Can the liberties of a nation be thought
secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are the gift of God? That they are not to be violated but with His wrath? Indeed, I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that His justice cannot sleep forever.26 —Thomas Jefferson
III
B
ut a Constitution of Government once changed from Freedom, can never be restored. Liberty, once lost, is lost forever.27 —John Adams
III
We have it in our power to begin the world
over again.28
—Thomas Paine
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Suppose the colonies do abound in men, what does that signify? They are raw, undisciplined, cowardly men.29 —Lord Sandwich, Britain’s First Lord of the Admiralty
III
T
he dye is now cast; the colonies must either submit or triumph. I do not wish to come to severer measures, but we must not retreat.30 —King George III
III
The war is inevitable—and let it come! I repeat it, sir, let it come!31
—Patrick Henry
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2
The Rebellion The first shots of the American Revolutionary
War rang out on April 19, 1775. Seven hundred British soldiers had marched out from Boston, Massachusetts, in search of a cache of weapons. In Lexington, they encountered seventy-足five militia troops who had assembled in response to a summons by Paul Revere. The American soldiers, commanded by Captain John Parker, skirmished briefly with the superior British force, and then the Redcoats continued their march to Concord. There they met a force of about five hundred American militia and minutemen. After a short battle, the British withdrew, suffering heavy casualties in their long retreat to Boston. Two months later, George Washington was placed in command of the Continental Army. He led his troops through eight years of bitter conflict before Britain sued for peace.
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HHH
Stand your ground; don’t fire unless fired
upon, but if they mean to have a war, let it begin here.32 —American Captain John Parker [at Lexington]
III
Fire, for God’s sake, fellow soldiers, fire!
33
—Major John Buttrick [ordering the first American fire at Concord]
III
I have not yet begun to fight!
34
—John Paul Jones [USS Bonhomme Richard captain]
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19
I
have been called upon by the unanimous voice of the Colonies to take command of the Continental Army—an honor I neither sought after, nor desired, as I am thoroughly convinced that it requires greater abilities, and more experience, than I am master of…but the partiality of the Congress, joined to a political motive, really left me without a choice.35 —George Washington
III
M
y God! These fellows have done more work in one night than I could make my army do in three months!36 —British General William Howe [after seeing breastworks thrown up by American troops overnight in Boston]
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M
en, you know you are all marksmen, you know you can take a squirrel from the tallest tree. Don’t fire until you see the whites of their eyes!37 —American General Israel Putnam [at the Battle of Bunker Hill]
III
T
he battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave.38 —Patrick Henry
III
T
hese are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of his country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman.39 —Thomas Paine
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21
W
e have therefore to resolve to conquer or die: Our own country’s honor, all call upon us for vigorous and manly exertion, and if we now shamefully fail, we shall become infamous to the whole world. Let us therefore rely upon the goodness of the Cause, and the aid of the Supreme Being, in whose hands victory is, to animate and encourage us to great and noble actions. 40 —George Washington
III
I only regret that I have but one life to give for
my country.41
—Nathan Hale
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T
he hour is fast approaching, on which the honor and success of this army, and the safety of our bleeding country depend. Remember officers and soldiers, that you are freemen, fighting for the blessings of liberty—that slavery will be your portion, and that of your posterity, if you do not acquit yourselves like men.42 —George Washington
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George Washington (February 22, 1732–December 14, 1799)
George Washington, popularly known as the
“Father of His Country,” served as the first president of the United States from 1789 to 1797. He was the commander in chief of the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War and
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presided over the writing of the Constitution. As a man of innumerable qualities, including tact, patience, compassion, and self-restraint, he was sought out by many for his counsel. He was by far the most popular and respected American politician of his time, and his leadership style and actions set many precedents for the Office of the President that have been continued to the present day. Although Washington was a respected executive, his service as military commander was probably his most significant contribution to his country. It is doubtful that any other military leader of his generation had the necessary forbearance, respect, and military acumen to defeat the British. HHH
W
hen we assumed the soldier, we did not lay aside the citizen.43 —George Washington
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Yonder are the Hessians. They were bought
for seven pounds and ten pence a man. Are you worth more? Prove it! Tonight the American flag floats from yonder hill or Molly Stark sleeps a widow!44 —American General John Stark [at the Battle of Bennington in 1777]
III
T
hese people show a spirit and conduct against us they never showed against the French…They are now spirited up by a rage and enthusiasm as great as ever people were possessed of, and you must proceed in earnest or give the business up.45 —British General Sir Thomas Gage [to Britain’s Secretary of War]
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O
Lord of Hosts, lead forth thy servants of the American Army to battle and give them victory; or, if this be not according to Thy sovereign will, then, we pray Thee, stand neutral and let flesh and blood decide the issue!46 —Israel Evans [chaplain of an American Brigade, immediately before battle]
III
T
he passions of a revolution are apt to hurry even good men into excesses.47 —Alexander Hamilton
III
We fight, get beat, and fight again.
48
—American General Nathanael Greene
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I
t is a common observation here that our cause is the cause of all mankind, and that we are fighting for their liberty in defending our own.49 —Benjamin Franklin
III
Three millions of people, armed in the holy cause of liberty, and in such a country as that which we possess, are invincible by any force which our enemy can send against us. Beside, sir, we shall not fight our battles alone. There is a just God who presides over the destinies of nations, and who will raise up friends to fight our battles for us.50 —Patrick Henry
III
T
he rebels are not the despicable rabble too many have supposed them to be.51 —British General Thomas Gage [to his superiors in London]
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W
e fight not to enslave, but to set a country free, and to make room upon the earth for honest men to live in.52 —Thomas Paine
III
Our cause is just, our union is perfect. Our
internal resources are great, and, if necessary, foreign assistance is undoubtedly attainable… The arms we have been compelled by our enemies to assume, we will, in defiance of every hazard, with unabating firmness and perseverence, employ for the preservation of our liberties; being with one mind resolved to die freemen rather than live slaves.53 —John Dickinson
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I
know that the conquest of English America is an impossibility. You cannot, I venture to say it, you cannot conquer America…If I were an American, as I am an Englishman, while a foreign troop was landed in my country, I would never lay down my arms—never—never—never!54 —Sir William Pitt [speaking to Parliament]
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Weho pet ha ty o ue nj o y e d r e a di ngt hi sf r e eo nl i nepr e v i e w. Y o uc a npur c ha s et he c o mpl e t eb o o ka ta nyt i me b yv i s i t i ngusa t : www. s i mpl e t r ut hs . c o m