"Learned to deride your fierce decree,And break you on the wheel you meant for me."
I do not mean to interfere with any man's legal or constitutional rights. The people of the slave States have the right to continue slavery there if they desire so to do. I have no right to interfere with it. But I intend to maintain my own rights.
To draw an impassable line around slavery, and confine it within its present limits; an absolute abolition of the African slave trade; the Territories to be kept free for homes for free men—these measures I regard as absolutely essential to the perpetuation of this Government, and to the highest development of the Anglo-Saxon race. I have endeavored to show what slavery is, what it has done, and what it intends to do. I have also endeavored to show what are the aims and objects of the Republican party; and if they cannot be tolerated—if such principles cannot be sustained by the people of any section of this country—it is the misfortune of that people. They are the principles that ought to be sustained by all people that are fitted for civil liberty; they are the principles on which this Government was founded; they were baptized in the best blood of this nation; they were cherished by the greatest names that adorn the brightest pages of the history of our country during its patriotic and virtuous and heroic age. They were emblazoned on every banner that waved over our army in every battle-field of the Revolution; during the storm and darkness, they were the bright "signet on the bosom of the cloud," the rainbow of promise and of hope.
Published by the Republican Congressional Committee. Price 50 cents per hundred.
Published by the Republican Congressional Committee. Price 50 cents per hundred.
Transcriber's Note:Minor typographical errors have been corrected without note. Variant spellings have been retained. Significant amendments to the original text have been listed below:p.2, 'Newbern' amended toNew Bern;'... meeting in New Bern, North Carolina ...'p.6, 'Scot' amended toScott;'... in the Dred Scott case ...'