The Missouri Compromise was repealed; and
here we are in the midst of a new slavery agitation, such, I think, as we
have never seen before. Who is responsible for this? Is it those who
resist the measure, or those who causelessly brought it forward, and
pressed it through, having reason to know, and in fact knowing, it must
and would be so resisted? It could not but be expected by its author that
it would be looked upon as a measure for the extension of slavery,
aggravated by a gross breach of faith.
Argue as you will and long as you will, this is the naked front and
aspect of the measure. And in this aspect it could not but produce
agitation. Slavery is founded in the selfishness of man's
nature--opposition to it in his love of justice. These principles are at
eternal antagonism, and when brought into collision so fiercely as
slavery extension brings them, shocks and throes and convulsions must
ceaselessly follow. Repeal the Missouri Compromise, repeal all
compromises, repeal the Declaration of Independence, repeal all past
history, you still cannot repeal human nature. It still will be the
abundance of man's heart that slavery extension is wrong, and out of the
abundance of his heart his mouth will continue to speak.
Pages:
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265