"I have so much confidence in the good sense of man, and his capacity for self-government, that I am never afraid of the issue where reason is left free to exert her force."

"The most effectual means of preventing the perversion of power into tyranny are to illuminate, as far as practicable, the minds of the people."

"The democracy which I have been so long laboring to establish in Virginia has received its death-wound from the present session of Assembly."

"The operations of the executive power are generally for the public good, and when they are not, they are generally checked by the Legislature."

"The mass of mankind has not been born with saddles on their backs, nor a favored few booted and spurred, ready to ride them legitimately, by the grace of God."