The same spirit which triumphed in this Fugitive Slave Act, on a pretext, has at last broken forth in rebellion, on a pretext also.

But every day of delay in its repeal is hurtful to the national cause and to the national name.

To this end all else must be tributary, while every pretext of State Rights and every allegation of irregularity are of less consequence than the breath with which they are urged.

Feeling as strongly as I do, and seeing the way as clearly as I do, I cannot be entirely silent.

The assertion of this power is necessary now, not merely for Georgia, where it will bring peace and security, but also for the Nation, which will be elevated in character and strengthened in that unity against which the Rebellion dashed…

The time has come when the Government should take up this work, nor leave the monopoly to foreign powers.

Do not say that this knowledge is without value.

Taking advantage of the proposed change, I would revise the whole postal service, and bring it into harmony with the demands of republican civilization.

Commerce and business were quickened infinitely, while the ties of social life were brightened and the heart was rejoiced.

The reduction of one cent a pound in the tariff on sugar, of two cents on coffee, or of a few cents on tea, is not treated as trivial.

I think I do not err, when I aver, that, even with the latter burden, the Post-Office, if it carried nothing but letters, and every letter paid one cent, would be self-supporting.

Here I am reminded of the possible loss of revenue, and this is set up as an insuperable barrier; but I confess, that, when I regard the infinite good from this reform, I am little concerned by any such prospect.

All this is now changed, at least among us, and Government is the creation of the people for their good.

The letters of a single day are the epitome of life, and this service is unceasing.

Custom makes us insensible to folly, and even to injustice.

Our aim should be to augment the sum of human happiness, making it the crown of our whole people; and just in proportion as we fail in this duty is the Republic a failure.

Thus, while doing right, shall we benefit ourselves.

Never till this moment has it been in my power to have a vote on a question which I deem of vital importance.

I, too, am the representative, on this question, of no mean body in this country, who I know would be disappointed and chagrined at the suspension of the question.

I make no proposition that I do not find in the institutions of my country.

He knows that I know that; but does the Senator suppose that he surpasses in ability many of the Chinese who might come here?

Now, Sir, I say that in those two great title-deeds of the Republic,--and that is the term by which I shall always designate them,--one interpreting the other, there is no single word which can sanction any exclusion on account of race or…

On the contrary, that Constitution, interpreted as it must be by the Declaration of Independence, opens the way to all men without distinction of race or color.

Modern war is the duel of the Dark Ages, magnified, amplified, extended so as to embrace nations; nor is it any less a duel because the combat is quickened and sustained by the energies of self-defence, or because, when a champion falls…

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