to exemplify, and
to illustrate, and to ingraft those principles upon the living and
practical understandings of all men within the reach of his influence.
This is his work; long or short his years, many or few his adherents,
powerful or weak his instrumentalities, through good report, or through
bad report, this is his work. It is to snatch from the bosom of nature
the latent facts of each individual man's experience, and with steady
hand to hold them up fresh and glowing, enforcing, with all his power,
their acknowledgment and practical adoption. If there be but _one_{366}
such man in the land, no matter what becomes of abolition societies
and parties, there will be an anti-slavery cause, and an anti-slavery
movement. Fortunately for that cause, and fortunately for him by whom it
is espoused, it requires no extraordinary amount of talent to preach it
or to receive it when preached. The grand secret of its power is, that
each of its principles is easily rendered appreciable to the faculty
of reason in man, and that the most unenlightened conscience has no
difficulty in deciding on which side to register its testimony. It can
call its preachers from among the fishermen, and raise them to power. In
every human breast, it has an advocate which can be silent only when the
heart is dead. It comes home to every man's understanding, and appeals
directly to every man's conscience. A man that does not recognize and
approve for himself the rights and privileges contended for, in behalf
of the American slave, has not yet been found. In whatever else men may
differ, they are alike in the apprehension of their natural and personal
rights. The difference between abolitionists and those by whom they are
opposed, is not as to principles. All are agreed in respect to these.
The manner of applying them is the point of difference.

The slaveholder himself, the daily robber of his equal brother,
discourses eloquently as to the excellency of justice, and the man
who employs a brutal driver to flay the flesh of his negroes, is not
offended when kindness and humanity are commended. Every time the
abolitionist speaks of justice, the anti-abolitionist assents says, yes,
I wish the world were filled with a disposition to render to every man
what is rightfully due him; I should then get what is due me. That's
right; let us have justice. By all means, let us have justice. Every
time the abolitionist speaks in honor of human liberty, he touches
a