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“ Toucey, true as he ever has been to the maintenance of equal rights as guaranteed by our national constitution, advocated and voted for the bill which declared them to the American people. The Missouri compromise bill, for so many years a public manifesto, that the people residing within a certain latitude were incompetent to govern themselves, has now taken its place in history as a gigantic error, inconsistent with our constitution and unworthy of a free and enlightened people. ”

“ There is scarcely a man or a woman in the United States, however ignorant some may be of other matters of interior policy, that does not know there is a deep-seated ulcer in the body politic on this American continent, festering and spreading in a lamentable manner, which it is necessary to cure or remove. The history of fanaticism in all ages, and the history of this peculiar people especially, show that persecution or violent measures short of extermination cannot eradicate such an evil, but would rather tend to increase it. ”

“ The project will be fully matured in the course of a few months, and then the government will be called upon to consider it. The national gratitude will be due to the projectors; they will be the instruments of removing from our Christian country, and from civilized communities, a plague-spot which is disgusting, an evil which is costing millions a year, and which would cost an incredible sum to keep it in check, and of doing all this in a humane and honorable manner, without giving a shock to the principles of our Constitution or the freedom of our institutions. ”

“ At no period of our history has the navy been more efficient than the present. There are more vessels in commission on foreign stations than we have ever had before, and the several squadrons are in a condition of which the country may justly be proud. Heretofore the vessels composing the squadron on the coast of Africa, which is kept up in compliance with treaty stipulations with Great Britain, have been of a description not well adapted for the object in view. ”

“ He must possess also the further qualifications of a statesman, and as a member of the cabinet contribute his share towards the solution of great questions relating to the national interests. In the discharge of these various duties, Mr. Toucey sustained his reputation as an acute and discriminating lawyer as well as a fearless and national statesman. His opinions are not overlaid and darkened by the display of cheap learning, but possess the merit, in a high degree, of being sensible, vigorous, and easy to be understood. ”

“ A Secretary of the Navy, entering upon the duties of office, suddenly finds everything connected with the Naval Marine, under his supervision, such as the building and repairing of ships, contracts for material, steam machinery, naval stores, clothing, provisions, &c.; the improvement of the Navy Yards, the Naval School, together with the disposition of the squadrons abroad, so as to afford adequate protection to the valuable and constantly increasing commerce which, through the enterprise of our commercial community, now penetrates every quarter of the world. ”

“ The plan is to remove to an island in the Pacific Ocean, where there are but few native inhabitants, which does not belong to any civilized power, on which are no colonies or constituted government, and which abounds in valuable natural productions, has a rich soil, and is large enough for an extensive community. This island has been sufficiently explored, and some of its harbors surveyed for the express purpose of treating with the Mormons and with the United States Government on the subject. ”

“ While others, his opponents, have seized upon a fleeting notoriety by sectional agitation, he has steadily pursued his upward and undeviating course, and now justly enjoys the reputation of a statesman whose views and policy embrace the whole country. ”

“ In 1848 he was appointed, by President Polk, Attorney General of the United States. His peculiar fitness for that position was at once evident to all reflective men.
The office of Attorney General requires the incumbent to possess, not only the qualifications of a judge, but also of an advocate. He represents the United States in the highest judicial tribunal of the country, in cases in which its interests are involved, and he must be able to illustrate them by arguments and to display them in the most favorable light. ”

“ Toucey entered the Department as its official head the personnel of the Navy was in a most confused and distracted condition, resulting from the operation of the act of Congress providing for a reserved list. As Gov. Toucey, when in the Senate, had advocated and voted for a law granting relief to those officers who complained of injustice by being placed on the Reserved List, not a few of them, as well as their friends, were disappointed that he did not at once adopt decisive measures to counteract the ill effects alleged. ”

“ In the disposition of the naval forces, Governor Toucey does not abate that forecast and energy which characterize his administration of the department. Whenever political or other considerations require that a vessel or vessels should be at any particular point, it will be found he has already anticipated the views and wishes of the country. In the early part of 1858, Great Britain claimed the right of search on the high seas, and her cruisers had actually exercised it, in the Gulf of Mexico, in the case of several American vessels. ”

“ An increase of the effective force of the Navy has received much attention, and in the measures connected therewith Gov. Toucey has displayed a knowledge of the subject which reflects upon him the highest credit. Under his administration of the Department no less than twenty steam vessels have been added to its effective force. Those constructed under his direction are admirably built, and justly pronounced equal, if not superior, to any of their respective classes in the world. ”

“ The Mormon chiefs having been made acquainted with the nature of the island, and all the circumstances connected with its independent position and geographical location, have received the information and proposition with much favor. The only question with them appears to be how they may reach and establish themselves on this island. They have not the means, and cannot possibly acquire sufficient means for such a gigantic undertaking, unless they could sell their property in Utah; private individuals would not buy their property while they remained in Utah ”

“ Toucey despatched as efficient and imposing a squadron as any which has heretofore left our shores. In preparing for the expedition it was soon ascertained the Navy did not possess vessels of a draught of water light enough to ascend the Parana and Paraguay rivers, in a sufficient number, in the event of force being required to secure the redress our Government demanded. In this emergency a commission of competent Naval Officers, the chief Naval Constructor, and the Engineer in Chief, were dispatched to the seaport cities to examine such steam vessels as would be available for that purpose. ”

“ In public and in private he has never hesitated to avow and to defend those opinions, thoroughly national in their character; and although, on some occasions, they may have caused his defeat in his native State, few men upon the whole have been more successful. ”

“ The application of military coercion is like a blister to a sore, it will irritate and inflame, but not cure; and the emollients of concessions and kindness may soothe for a time, but the scrofula of Mormonism is irradicable by any such means. ”

“ It will break out again and again till the whole body becomes deformed and disgusting. Your political doctors and your military doctors are of no use. Quackery cannot touch the disease, and the ordinary means in practice cannot reach it. ”