Whitelaw Reid: “Cotton was no longer king, but the cotton-maker was.”

Ordinarily the simple performance of duty is so blessed of God, that men who live in the doing of it, are the best off, in all respects, even in this world.

They should persist in this claim respectfully, but firmly, taking care to bring no discredit upon it by their own action.

It has proved, also, that universal suffrage is the surest guarantee and most powerful stimulus of individual, social and political progress.

Never was there a problem more serious or difficult than that which is now before the Nation, as to this race, whose destiny has been confided to the wisdom and honor of our Government.