He came to regard himself as the hero upon a remarkable stage of action, and naturally made the reflection that if he could have had in his early years the advantages which so many possess without improving, he would have made strides in life which would have left him without rivals.

It would be impossible to gain a full and correct apprehension of Mr.Johnson's character without taking into account these qualities -- qualities which were both the remote and immediate cause of his extraordinary career as Chief Magistrate.
The earlier Presidents, filled with the spirit of the convention that formed the Constitution, were extremely careful in the use of the veto-power.

In eight years Washington used it but twice.

Neither John Adams nor Thomas Jefferson used it even once.

Madison resorted to it three times, Monroe only once, John Quincy Adams in not a single instance.