Every man of every color and description has a natural right to freedom. - John Jay

The Americans are the first people whom heaven has favoured with an opportunity of deliberating upon and choosing forms of government under which they should live.

No power on earth has a right to take our property from us without our consent.

Similar sentiments have hitherto prevailed among all orders and denominations of men among us. To all general purposes we have uniformly been one people; each individual citizen everywhere enjoying the same national rights, privileges, and protection. As a nation we have made peace and war: as a nation we have vanquished our common enemies: as a nation we have formed alliances, and made treaties, and entered into various compacts and conventions with foreign States.