Whenever I hear anyone arguing for slavery I feel a strong impulse to see it tried on him personally.
In giving freedom to the slave, we assure freedom to the free — honorable alike in what we give, and what we preserve. We shall nobly save, or meanly lose, the last best hope of earth.
No man is good enough to govern another man, without that other’s consent. I say this is the leading principle–the sheet anchor of American republicanism.
You think slavery is right and should be extended; while we think slavery is wrong and ought to be restricted. That I suppose is the rub. It certainly is the only substantial difference between us.
This is a world of compensations; and he who would be no slave, must consent to have no slave. Those who deny freedom to others, deserve it not for themselves; and, under a just God, can not long retain it.
As I would not be a slave, so I would not be a master. This expresses my idea of democracy.
I leave you, hoping that the lamp of liberty will burn in your bosoms until there shall no longer be a doubt that all men are created free and equal.
The one victory we can ever call complete will be that one which proclaims that there is not one slave or one drunkard on the face of God’s green earth.
All I ask for the negro is that if you do not like him, let him alone. If God gave him but little, that little let him enjoy.
Let us remember that all American citizens are brothers of a common country, and should dwell together in the bonds of fraternal feeling.
