he consequence? Why, under this hue-and-cry for
Union, _Union_, UNION, which is like a bait held out to the mass
of the people to lure them on, they will grant to the South the
meanest and the most contemptible compromises that the worst
slaveholders in the South can require. And if they really accept
them and come back--my only hope is that they will not--but if
the South should accept these compromises, and come back, slavery
will be fastened, not only in the South, but it will be
nationally fastened on the North. Now, a good Union, like a good
Constitution, is a most invaluable thing; but a false Union is
infinitely more despicable than no Union at all; and for myself,
I would vastly prefer to have the South remain independent, than
to bring them back with that eternal curse nationalized in the
country. It is not enough for Abraham Lincoln to proclaim the
slaves in the South free, nor even to continue the war until they
shall be really free. There is something to be done at home; for
justice, like charity, must begin at home. It is a mockery to say
that we emancipate the slaves we can not reach and pass by those
we can reach. First, free the slaves that are under the flag of
the Union. If that flag is the symbol of freedom, let it wave
over free men only. The slaves must be freed in the Border
States. Consistency is a great power. What are you afraid of?
That the Border States will join with the now crippled rebel
States? We have our army there, and the North can swell its
armies. But we can not afford to fight without an object. We can
not afford to bring the South back with slavery. We can not
compromise with principle. What has brought on this war? Slavery,
undoubtedly. Slavery was the primary cause of it. But the great
secondary cause was the fact that the North, for the sake of the
Union, has constantly compromised. Every demand that the South
made of the North was acceded to, until the South came really to
believe that they were the natural and legitimate masters, not
only of the slaves, but of the North too.

Now, it is time to reverse all these things. This rebellion and
this war have cost too dear. The money spent, the vast stores
destroyed, the tears shed, the lives sacrificed the hearts broken
are too high a price to be paid for