Historical voices

The difference between abolitionists and those by whom they are opposed, is not as to principles.

In whatever else men may differ, they are alike in the apprehension of their natural and personal rights.

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.

It comes home to every man’s understanding, and appeals directly to every man’s conscience.

In every human breast, it has an advocate which can be silent only when the heart is dead.

It can call its preachers from among the fishermen, and raise them to power.

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.

If there be but one 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.

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.

His great work on earth is 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.

The man who has thoroughly embraced the principles of justice, love, and liberty, like the true preacher of Christianity, is less anxious to reproach the world of its sins, than to win it to repentance.

He may set in judgment on the age, upon the civilization of the age, and upon the religion of the age; for he has a test, a sure and certain test, by which to try all institutions, and to measure all men.

Whoso has ascended his height, and has the grace to stand there, has the world at his feet, and is the world’s teacher, as of divine right.

If but one be filled with it, the cause lives.

The moral life of human society, it cannot die while conscience, honor, and humanity remain.

It is the very essence of justice, liberty, and love.

That cause has a life, distinct and independent of the organizations patched up from time to time to carry it forward.

Present organizations may perish, but the cause will go on.

The quiet prayer meeting, and the stormy halls of national debate, share its presence alike.

You have seen it moving in all directions, and in all weathers, and in all places, appearing most where desired least, and pressing hardest where most resisted.

The nation has seen its face, and felt the controlling pressure of its hand.

The latter, it leads to the gates of all valuable knowledge—philanthropic, ethical, and religious; for it brings them to the study of man, wonderfully and fearfully made—the proper study of man through all time—the open book, in which are…

If to the enemies of liberty this subject is one of engrossing interest, vastly more so should it be such to freedom’s friends.

At this moment, I deem it safe to say, it is properly engrossing more minds in this country than any other subject now before the American people.