Quote

Outside of the Constitution we have no legal authority more than private citizens, and within it we have only so much as that instrument gives us. This broad principle limits all our functions and applies to all subjects.

Andrew Johnson

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Andrew Johnson
Age: 66 †
Born: 1808
Born: December 29
Died: 1875
Died: July 31
17Th U.S. President
Military Officer
Politician
Slaveholder
Statesperson
Tailor
Raleigh
North Carolina
A. Johnson
President Johnson
Much
Outside
Instruments
Gives
Private
Applies
Principles
Function
Functions
Liberty
Constitution
Broads
Within
Limits
Broad
Political
Authority
Legal
Government
Subjects
Instrument
Giving
Citizens
Principle

More quotes by Andrew Johnson

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I have reached the summit of my ambition.
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Washington, DC is 12 square miles bordered by reality.
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Legislation can neither be wise nor just which seeks the welfare of a single interest at the expense and to the injury of many and varied interests.
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If the rabble were lopped off at one end and the aristocrat at the other, all would be well with the country.
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If blacks were given the right to vote, that would place every splay-footed, bandy-shanked, hump-backed, thick-lipped, flat-nosed, woolly-headed, ebon-colored in the country upon an equality with the poor white man.
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The homestead policy was established only after long and earnest resistance experience proves its wisdom. The lands in the hands of industrious settlers, whose labor creates wealth and contributes to the public resources, are worth more to the United States than if they had been reserved as a solitude for future purchasers.
Andrew Johnson
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There are no good laws but such as repeal other laws.
Andrew Johnson
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The life of a republic lies certainly in the energy, virtue, and intelligence of its citizens.
Andrew Johnson
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I never thought I would be impeached.
Andrew Johnson
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I am sworn to uphold the Constitution as Andy Johnson understands it and interprets it.
Andrew Johnson
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For myself, I care not whether treason be committed North or South he that is guilty of treason is entitled to a traitor's fate!
Andrew Johnson
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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.
Andrew Johnson
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It is a damn poor mind indeed which can't think of at least two ways to spell any word.
Andrew Johnson
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Let them impeach and be damned.
Andrew Johnson
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Honest conviction is my courage the Constitution is my guide.
Andrew Johnson
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If I am to be shot at, I want no man to be in the way of the bullet.
Andrew Johnson
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If you always support the correct principles then you will never get the wrong results!
Andrew Johnson
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I feel incompetent to perform duties...which have been so unexpectedly thrown upon me.
Andrew Johnson
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I have lived among negroes, all my life, and I am for this Government with slavery under the Constitution as it is. I am for the Government of my fathers with negroes. I am for it without negroes. Before I would see this Government destroyed I would send every negro back to Africa, disintegrated and blotted out of space
Andrew Johnson
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Let us look forward to the time when we can take the flag of our country and nail it below the Cross, and there let it wave as it waved in the olden times, and let us gather around it and inscribed for our motto: 'Liberty and Union, one and inseparable, now and forever,' and exclaim, 'Christ first, our country next!'
Andrew Johnson