James K. Polk
I cannot adequately express the horror I feel for a man who can be so base as to veil his hypocrisy under the cloak of religion, and state the base falsehood he has done.Collection: Religion
Foreign powers do not seem to appreciate the true character of our government.Collection: Government
Well may the boldest fear and the wisest tremble when incurring responsibilities on which may depend our country's peace and prosperity, and in some degree the hopes and happiness of the whole human family.Collection: Peace
Although... the Chief Magistrate must almost of necessity be chosen by a party and stand pledged to its principles and measures, yet in his official action he should not be the President of a party only, but of the whole people of the United States.Collection: History
The whole frame of the Federal Constitution proves that the government which it creates was intended to be one of limited and specified powers.Collection: Government
Peace, plenty, and contentment reign throughout our borders, and our beloved country presents a sublime moral spectacle to the world.Collection: Peace
A crowd of persons came in as soon as my office was opened. Among them were several ladies who called to pay their respects. None who called had any business of more importance than an ardent desire to serve their country, provided they could be appointed to a good office. As I has none of these to dispose of, they were, of course, disappointed.Collection: Business
It is not questioned that the Federal Government is one of limited powers. Its powers are such, and such only, as are expressly granted in the Constitution or are properly incident to the expressly granted powers and necessary to their execution.Collection: Government
I would bring the government back to what it was intended to be - a plain economical government.Collection: Government
The world has nothing to fear from military ambition in our Government.Collection: Fear
One great object of the Constitution was to restrain majorities from oppressing minorities or encroaching upon their just rights.Collection: Great
The passion for office among members of Congress is very great, if not absolutely disreputable, and greatly embarrasses the operations of the Government. They create offices by their own votes and then seek to fill them themselves.Collection: Government
No president who performs his duties faithfully and conscientiously can have any leisure.
No person can be more deeply sensible than myself of the danger of entangling alliances with any foreign nation. That we should avoid such alliances has become a maxim of our policy consecrated by the most venerated names which adorn our history and sanctioned by the unanimous voice of the American people.
It is of great importance to our country generally, and especially to our navigating and whaling interests, that the Pacific Coast and, indeed, the whole of our territory west of the Rocky Mountains, should speedily be filled up by a hardy and patriotic population.
With me it is exceptionally true that the Presidency is no bed of roses.
Minorities have a right to appeal to the Constitution as a shield against such oppression.
The most energetic and prompt measures and the immediate appearance in arms of a large and overpowering force are recommended to Congress as the most certain and efficient means of bringing the existing collision with Mexico to a speedy and successful termination.
There is more selfishness and less principle among members of Congress than I had any conception of, before I became President of the U.S.
I am heartily rejoiced that my term is so near its close. I will soon cease to be a servant and will become a sovereign.
Our relations with the various Indian tribes continue to be of a pacific character.
It becomes us in humility to make our devout acknowledgments to the Supreme Ruler of the Universe for the inestimable civil and religious blessings with which we are favored.
The Senate are a branch of the treaty-making power, and by consulting them in advance of his own action upon important measures of foreign policy which may ultimately come before them for their consideration, the President secures harmony of action between that body and himself.
Senator Badger did not call. During the whole of the last session of Congress, he did not call on me. He is a bitter partisan and is no doubt sensible that during the presidential canvass of 1844, he did me gross injustice.
Under the benignant providence of Almighty God the representatives of the States and of the people are again brought together to deliberate for the public good.
We must ever mandate the principle that the people of this continent alone have the right to decide their own destiny.Collection: Destiny
There are four great measures for my administration - a reduction of tariff, an independent treasury, settlement of the Oregon boundary and acquisition of California.Collection: Independent
Under the blessings of Divine Providence... It becomes us, in humility, to make our devout acknowledgments to the Supreme Ruler of the Universe, for the inestimable civil and religious blessings with which we are favored.Collection: Religious
All distinctions of birth or of rank have been abolished. All citizens, whether native or adopted, are placed upon terms of precise equality. All are entitled to equal rights and equal protection.Collection: Rights
Thank God, under our Constitution there was no connection between church and state.Collection: Thank God
It is confidently believed that our system may be safely extended to the utmost bounds of our territorial limits.Collection: May
The gratitude ... should be commensurate with the boundless blessings which we enjoy.Collection: Gratitude
I cannot, whilst President of the United States, descend to enter into a newspaper controversy.Collection: President
The Presidency is not a bed of roses.Collection: Bed Of Roses
No president who performs his duties faithfully and conscientiously can have any leisure. If he entrusts the details and smaller matters to subordinates constant errors will occur. I prefer to supervise the whole operations of the government myself rather than entrust the public business to subordinates, and this makes my duties very great.Collection: Errors
If a man . . . would shake and not be shaken, grip and not be gripped, taking care always to squeeze the hand of his adversary as hard as it squeezed him, then he suffered no inconvenience from it.Collection: Men
Although in our country the Chief Magistrate must almost of necessity be chosen by a party and stand pledged to its principles and measures, yet in his official action he should not be the President of a part only, but of the whole people of the United States.Collection: Party
No union exists between church and state, and perfect freedom of opinion is guaranteed to all sects and creeds.Collection: Freedom
Under the benignant providence of Almighty God the representatives of the States and of the people are again brought together to deliberate for the public good. The gratitude of the nation to the sovereign arbiter of all human events should be commensurate with the boundless blessings which we enjoy. Peace, plenty, and contentment reign throughout our borders, and our beloved country presents a sublime moral spectacle to the world.Collection: Country
The Constitution itself, plainly written as it is, the safeguard of our federative compact, the offspring of concession and compromise, binding together in the bonds of peace and union this great and increasing family of free and independent States, will be the chart by which I shall be directed.Collection: Peace
General Taylor is, I have no doubt, a well-meaning old man. He is, however, uneducated, exceedingly ignorant of public affairs, and I should judge, of very ordinary capacity.Collection: Men
When I observed a strong man approaching I generally took advantage of him by being a little quicker than he was and seizing him by the tip of the fingers, giving him a hearty shake, and thus preventing him from getting a full grip upon me.Collection: Strong
I love you Sarah. For all eternity, I love you.Collection: Love
Public opinion: May it always perform one of its appropriate offices, by teaching the public functionaries of the State and of the Federal Government, that neither shall assume the exercise of powers entrusted by the Constitution to the other.Collection: Teaching
Thank God, under our Constitution there was no connection between Church and State, and that in my action as President of the United States I recognized no distinction of creeds in my appointments office.Collection: Office