At what point then is the approach of danger to be expected? I answer, if it ever reach us, it must spring up amongst us. It cannot come from abroad. If destruction be our lot, we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen, we must live through all time, or die by suicide.  — 1838

My Take – No nation is invulnerable, as we have all learned in the past few years.  But if our country is to every truly fall, its causes will be found in our inability to act like a nation.  If America fails, it will not be conquered, but will split and rot from the center out.  Our responsibility as citizens is to work together to forestall that day for as long as possible.