It was not from lack of native courage that Virginia submitted for thirty long hours and at last was relieved only by Federal troops; but because the attack was made on the side of her conscience and thus armed her against herself.
Douglass argues that Virginia's prolonged submission was due to a moral conflict rather than a lack of courage.
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Our very lack of preparation for the conflict disposed us to look for some other than the way of blood out of the difficulty.
Land is not worth much where there are no people to occupy it, and a mule is not worth much where there is no one to drive him.