Joseph Dennie

"A democracy is scarcely tolerable at any period of national history. Its omens are always sinister, and its powers are unpropitious. It is on its trial here, and the issue will be civil war, desolation, and anarchy. No wise man but discerns its imperfections, no good man but shudders at its miseries, no honest man but proclaims its fraud, and no brave man but draws his sword against its force. The institution of a scheme of policy so radically contemptible and vicious is a memorable example of what the villany of some men can devise, the folly of others receive, and both establish in spite of reason, reflection, and sensation."

"Eloquence may truly be considered in every country, where the freedom of speech is indulged, as synonimous with civic honours, wealth, dignity and might. In the last particular, its potency is that of a magician. It wields at will our fierce democracie."