Henry Ward Beecher: “It is simply a question whether, for fear of these things, they will ignore and rub out of their creed every principle…”

All attempts at evasion, at adjourning, at concealing and compromising are in vain.

Having once given forth this spirit of liberty, now fading out of our Southern States, the North should again come forth and refill the poisoned veins that have been drinking the hemlock of Despotism with the new blood of Liberty!

And if by an insane blindness you shall contrive to put off the issue, and send this unsettled dispute down to your children, it will go down, gathering volume and strength at every step, to waste and desolate their heritage.

Two great powers that will not live together are in our midst, and tugging at each other's throats.