e Union, under the circumstances, was
sure death to the slave, in disunion lay his great life-giving hope.
Therefore his tried and sagacious friend was for sacrificing the Union
to win for him freedom.

As the friends of the Union were disposed to haggle at no price to
preserve it, so was Garrison disposed to barter the Union itself in
exchange for the abolition of slavery. "Now, then, let there be a
CONVENTION OF THE FREE STATES," he suggested, "called to organize an
independent government on free and just principles; and let them say to
the slave States: Though you are without excuse for your treasonable
conduct, depart in peace! Though you have laid piratical hands on
property not your own, we surrender it all in the spirit of magnanimity!
And if nothing but the possession of the Capitol will appease you, take
even that without a struggle! Let the line be drawn between us where
free institutions end and slave institutions begin!"

But the thunder of the rebel guns in Charleston Harbor wrought in the
reformer a complete revolution in this regard. In the tremendous popular
uprising which followed that insult to the national flag he perceived
that the old order with its compromises and dispositions to agree to
anything, to do anything for the sake of preserving the Union had passed
away forever. When it was suggested as an objection to his change of
base that the "Administration is endeavoring to uphold the Union, the
Constitution, and the Laws, even as from the formation of the
Government," he was not for a moment deceived by its apparent force, but
replied sagely that "this is a verbal and technical view of the case."
"Facts are more potential than words," he remarked with philosophic
composure, "and events greater than parchment arrangements. The truth
is, the old Union is _nan est invenius_, and its restoration, with its
pro-slavery compromises, well-nigh impossible. The conflict is really
between the civilization of freedom and the barbarism of
slavery--between the principles of democracy and the doctrines of
absolutism--between the free North and the man-imbruting South;
therefore, to this extent hopeful for the cause of impartial liberty."

With the instinct of wise leadership, he adjusted himself and his little
band of Abolitionists, as far as he was able, to the exigencies of the
revolution. In his madness there was always remarkable method. When the
nation was apathetic, dead on the subject of slavery, he us