Martin Van Buren, the 8th president of the United States, was a skilled politician who played a pivotal role in shaping early American politics. As the founder of the Democratic Party, he focused on policies that promoted economic development and the protection of individual rights. His leadership during times of economic turmoil, particularly the Panic of 1837, reflected his commitment to preserving the nation's democratic principles. Van Buren's legacy teaches the importance of strategic thinking, political unity, and resilience in leadership during challenging times.
"The case of the Seminoles constitutes at present the only exception to the successful efforts of the Government to remove the Indians to the homes assigned them west of the Mississippi."
"The government should not be guided by Temporary Excitement, but by Sober Second Thought."
"With respect to the northeastern boundary of the United States, no official correspondence between this Government and that of Great Britain has passed since that communicated to Congress toward the close of their last session."
"Every proper exertion has been made and will be continued to carry out the wishes of Congress in relation to the tobacco trade, as indicated in the several resolutions of the House of Representatives and the legislation of the two branches."
"The condition of the tribes which occupy the country set apart for them in the West is highly prosperous, and encourages the hope of their early civilization. They have for the most part abandoned the hunter state and turned their attention to agricultural pursuits."
"The less government interferes with private pursuits, the better for general prosperity."
"For myself, therefore, I desire to declare that the principle that will govern me in the high duty to which my country calls me is a strict adherence to the letter and spirit of the Constitution as it was designed by those who framed it."
"In a government whose distinguishing characteristic should be a diffusion and equalization of its benefits and burdens the advantage of individuals will be augmented at the expense of the community at large."
"Those who have wrought great changes in the world never succeeded by gaining over chiefs; but always by exciting the multitude. The first is the resource of intrigue and produces only secondary results, the second is the resort of genius and transforms the universe."
"The United States have fulfilled in good faith all their treaty stipulations with the Indian tribes, and have in every other instance insisted upon a like performance of their obligations."
"With European powers no new subjects of difficulty have arisen, and those which were under discussion, although not terminated, do not present a more unfavorable aspect for the future preservation of that good understanding which it has ever been our desire to cultivate."
"As to the presidency, the two happiest days of my life were those of my entrance upon the office and my surrender of it."
"My conviction of the necessity of further legislative provisions for the safe-keeping and disbursement of the public moneys and my opinion in regard to the measures best adapted to the accomplishment of those objects have been already submitted to you."
"It seems proper, at all events, that by an early enactment similar to that of other countries the application of public money by an officer of Government to private uses should be made a felony and visited with severe and ignominious punishment."
"The connection which formerly existed between the Government and banks was in reality injurious to both, as well as to the general interests of the community at large."