Irresponsible power is inconsistent with liberty, and must corrupt those who exercise it.

I think it is very important that we understand that these
are informal discussions,

This is going to affect hundreds of thousands of people and it's going to
have an impact on our nation's economy,

fell a little bit short.

In 1828 we raised the duties, on an average, to nearly fifty per cent, when the debt was on the eve of being discharged, and thereby flooded the country with a revenue, when discharged, which could not be absorbed by the most lavish expenditures.

I saw that the incorporation of Texas into this Union would be indispensable both to her safety and ours. I saw that it was impossible she could stand as an independent power between us and Mexico without becoming the scene of intrigue of foreign powers, alike destructive of the peace and security of both Texas and ourselves.