Calhoun gave us “state rights” as a most pernicious and absurd equivalent for national supremacy under the constitution.
Douglas applied “squatter sovereignty,” though it is probable that Cass invented it and Calhoun named it.
Stringfellow was the original “Border Ruffian.”
War times gave us no end of epigrammatic utterances. Those of Lincoln alone would fill a volume—chief of these, is that noble sentiment: “With charity to all, and malice toward none.”
McClellan’s “All quiet along the Potomac” was repeated so often that its echo will “ring down through the ages.”
To Gen. Butler the country was indebted for the phrase “Contraband of War,” as applied to fugitive negroes found within our lines.
Grant gave us “Fight it out on this line,” “Unconditional surrender,” “I propose to move immediately upon your works,” “Bottled up,” and a hundred others. It seems to have escaped notice that Grant is responsible for more of these characterizing, elementary crystallizations of thought, than any other military leader of modern times.
One odd example occurs, in his response to Gen. Sheridan’s telegram: “If things are pushed, Lee will surrender.” “Push things!” was the reply, and that has passed into a proverb.
DIALECTICAL.