An American Without Reserve
by Daniel Webster
I was born an American; I live an American;
I shall die an American; and I intend to perform the duties incumbent upon me in that
character to the end of my career. I mean to
do this with absolute disregard of personal
consequences.
What are the personal consequences? What
is the individual man, with all the good or evil
that may betide him, in comparison with the
good or evil which may befall a great country,
and in the midst of great transactions which
concern that country's fate?
Let the consequences be what they will, I
am careless. No man can suffer too much,
and no man can fall too soon, if he suffer, or
if he fall, in the defense of the liberties and
constitution of his country.
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