"There are some who lack confidence in the integrity and capacity of the people to govern themselves. To all who entertain such fears I will most respectfully say that I entertain none... If a man is not capable, and is not to be trusted with the government of himself, is he to be trusted with the government of others... Who, then, will govern? The answer must be, Man — for we have no angels in the shape of men, as yet, who are willing to take charge of our political affairs."
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Presidents of the United StatesVice Presidents of the United StatesGovernors of TennesseePeople from RaleighPoliticians from Tennessee
Original Language: English
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Sources
Statement (1853) as quoted in Andrew Johnson, Plebeian and Patriot (1928) by Robert Watson Winston.
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Andrew_Johnson
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Andrew Johnson
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