We should join with Washington in his exclamation to Lafayette, on learning that this philanthropic Frenchman had purchased an estate in Cayenne, with the view of emancipating the slaves on it: "Would to God a like spirit might diffuse itself generally into the minds of the people of this country!
Sumner invokes Washington's wish for a spirit of emancipation to spread among the American people.
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It applies an arrogant and unrelenting ostracism to all who express themselves against Slavery.
I agree with the Convention in the importance of the new organization; nor do I think there are many candid persons, recognizing morals as the soul of all true politics, who will hesitate in this conclusion.
In this contest, we may borrow from the ancient Greek, who, when his hands were cut off, fought with his stumps, and even with his teeth.
The first is a heavenly sentiment, from God: the other is a device of this world.
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