“Whatever, then, their cause may be, it is common to the whole country.
“Many great and good men, sufficiently qualified for any task they may undertake, may ever be found, whose ambition would aspire to nothing beyond a seat in Congress, a gubernatorial or Presidential chair; but such belong not to the family of the lion, or the tribe of the eagle.
“What! Think you these places would satisfy an Alexander, a Caesar, or a Napoleon? Never!
“Towering genius disdains a beaten path. It seeks regions hitherto unexplored.
“It seeks no distinction in adding story to story upon the monuments of fame, erected to the memory of others.
“It denies that it is glory enough to serve under any chief.
“It scorns to tread in the footpaths of any predecessor, however illustrious.
“It thirsts and burns for distinction, and, if possible, it will have it, whether at the expense of emancipating the slaves or enslaving freemen.
“Another reason which once was, but which to the same extent is now no more, has done much in maintaining our institutions thus far.
“I mean the powerful influence which the interesting scenes of the Revolution had upon the passions of the people, as distinguished from their judgment.