Quote
By Andrew Johnson
The life of a republic lies certainly in the energy, virtue, and intelligence of its citizens; but it is equally true that a good revenue system is the life of an organized government.
- Source
- First Annual Message, December 4, 1865
- Read at
- The American Presidency Project, UC Santa Barbara
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About this quote
From Johnson's first annual message to Congress, December 4, 1865. He is introducing the need to deal with the war debt. The full sentence is kept because its second half turns to the revenue system.