s though a man's skin
should make any difference in the recognition of his rights, any
more than the color of his hair or of his eyes. This little blade
sprouted as it were from the precious seeds that were planted by
Jesus of Nazareth. But, my friends, if it took eighteen hundred
years to bring forth the little blade which was seen in our
Declaration, are we not unreasonable to suppose that more could
have been done than has been done, looking at the imperfections
of human nature, looking at the selfishness of man, looking at
his desire for wealth and his greed for glory?

Had the South yielded at that time to the freemen of the North,
we should have had a free Government; but it was impossible to
overcome the long and strong prejudices of the South in favor of
slavery. I know what the South is. I lived there the best part of
my life. I never could talk against slavery without making my
friends angry--never. When they thought the day was far off, and
there was no danger of emancipation, they were willing to admit
it was an evil; but when God in His providence raised up in this
country an Anti-slavery Society, protesting against the
oppressions of the colored man, they began to feel that truth
which is more powerful than arms--that truth which is the only
banner under which we can successfully fight. They were
comparatively quiet till they found, in the election of Mr.
Lincoln, the scepter had actually departed from them. His
election took place on the ground that slavery was not to be
extended--that it must not pass into the Territories. This was
what alarmed them. They saw that if the National Government
should take one such step, it never would stop there; that this
principle had never before been acknowledged by those who had any
power in the nation.

God be praised. Abolitionists never sought place or power. All
they asked was freedom; all they wanted was that the white man
should take his foot off the negro's neck. The South determined
to resist the election of Mr. Lincoln. They determined if Fremont
was elected, they would rebel. And this rebellion is like their
own Republic, as they call it; it is founded upon slavery. As I
asked one of my friends one day, "What are you rebelling for? The
North never made any laws for you that t