What lawless violence failed to accomplish was urged next through forms of law.

The press, too, with untold power, exerted itself in this behalf, while pulpit, politician, and merchant conspired to stifle discussion, until the voice of Freedom was hushed to a whisper, “alas! almost afraid to know itself.

Slavery, in all its many-sided wrong, still continues; but here in this metropolis--ay, Sir, and throughout the whole North--freedom of discussion is at length secured.

And this, I say, is the first stage of victory,--herald of the transcendent future.

At first persecuted, gagged, silenced, crucified, she cries out from the prison, the rack, the stake, the cross, until at last her voice is heard.

And when that voice is really heard, whether in martyr cries, or in earthquake tones of civil convulsion, or in the calmness of ordinary speech, such as I now employ, or in that still, small utterance inaudible to the common ear, then is…

Give me where to stand and I will move the world,” said Archimedes; and Truth asks no more than did the master of geometry.

From this time forward, her voice of warning and command cannot be silenced.

The sensitive sympathies of property, in this commercial mart, may yet again recognize property in man; the watchful press itself may falter or fail; but the vantage-ground of free discussion now achieved cannot be lost.

On this I take my stand, and, as from the Mount of Vision, behold the whole field of our great controversy spread before me.

There is no point, topic, fact, matter, reason, or argument, touching the question between Slavery and Freedom, which is not now open.

I begin with the NECESSITY of the Antislavery Enterprise.

In the wrong of Slavery, as defined by existing law, this necessity is plainly apparent; nor can any man within the sound of my voice, who listens to the authentic words of the law, hesitate in my conclusion.

A wrong so grievous and unquestionable should not be allowed to continue.

For the honor of human nature, and the good of all concerned, it must at once cease.

On this simple statement, as corner-stone, I found the necessity of the Antislavery Enterprise.

All these I put aside,--not because I do not regard them of moment in exhibiting the true character of Slavery, but because I desire to present this argument on grounds above all controversy, impeachment, or suspicion, even from…

Not on triumphant story, not even on indisputable fact, do I now accuse Slavery, but on its character, as revealed in its own simple definition of itself.

By the Law of Slavery, man, created in the image of God, is divested of the human character, and declared to be a mere chattel.

As out of its small egg crawls forth the slimy, scaly, reptile crocodile, so out of this simple definition crawls forth the whole slimy, scaly, reptile monstrosity by which a man is changed into a chattel, a person is converted into a…

The slave may seem to have a wife; but he has not, for his wife belongs to his master.

He may seem to have a child; but he has not, for his child is owned by his master.

He may be filled with desire of knowledge, opening to him the gates of joy on earth and in heaven; but the master may impiously close all these gates.

Thus is he robbed, not merely of privileges, but of himself,--not merely of money and labor, but of wife and children,--not merely of time and opportunity, but of every assurance of happiness,--not merely of earthly hope, but of all those…

Let us at all hazards prevent the extension of Slavery and the increase of the Slave Power.