Civil Discord Quotes

If the great American people will only keep their temper, on both sides of the line, the troubles will come to an end, and the question which now distracts the country will be settled just as surely as all other difficulties of like character which have originated in this government have been adjusted.

Secession was dangerous and contrary to the concept of democracy. If democracy is to work, there must be acceptance by all parties in the results of an election and in majority rule. Secession allowed a minority of the citizens to overturn the results of an election, subvert the will of the majority, and shut down the process of give and take between competing interests in a constitutional republic as envisioned by the founders.

I was grateful for the opportunity to make a difference. The political violence really started in 1970-1971. The political difficulties start a little bit beyond that.

I think for my part one half of the nation is mad - and the other not very sound.

Let me conjure you, in the name of our common Country, as you value your own sacred honor, as you respect the rights of humanity, and as you regard the Military and National character of America, to express your utmost horror and detestation of the Man who wishes, under any specious pretences, to overturn the liberties of our Country, and who wickedly at- tempts to open the flood Gates of Civil discord, and deluge our rising Empire in Blood. You will defeat the insidious designs of our Enemies, who are compelled to resort from open force to secret Artifice. You will give one more distinguished proof of unexampled patriotism and patient virtue, rising superior to the pressure of the most complicated sufferings; And you will, by the dignity of your Conduct, afford occasion for Posterity to say, when speaking of the glorious example you have exhibited to Mankind, "had this day been wanting, the World had never seen the last stage of perfection to which human nature is capable of attaining.

A Failure in this Duty did once involve our Nation in all the Horrors of Rebellion and Civil War.

Can we, as a nation, continue together permanently together, forever, half slave, and half free?

I don't think things are getting more insane. I do know that the country is more divided than it's ever been. Tensions in America are at their peak.

One section of our country believes slavery is right, and ought to be extended, while the other believes it is wrong, and ought not to be extended.

The latent causes of faction are thus sown in the nature of man; and we see them everywhere brought into different degrees of activity, according to the different circumstances of civil society.

I was involuntarily led into a short discussion … by your remarks on the conduct of the Boston people, and your opinion of their wishes to set up for independency. I am as well satisfied as I can be of my existence that no such thing is desired by any thinking man in all North America; on the contrary, that it is the ardent wish of the warmest advocates for liberty, that peace and tranquility, upon constitutional grounds, may be restored, and the horrors of civil discord prevented …

Theological religion is the source of all imaginable follies and disturbances. It is the parent of fanaticism and civil discord; it is the enemy of mankind.

There are going to be a lot of problems with social cohesion. We are already cutting down everything to the bone. Unless there is light at the end of the tunnel.

From hence, let fierce contending nations know What dire effects from civil discord flow.