I do not adduce them for blind acceptance, but simply that you may see how in times past defeat was stayed and victory won by a generous word for Freedom.

I will not doubt, that, in the unparalleled circumstances by which we are encompassed, justice will be done.

A simple declaration, that all men within the lines of the United States troops are freemen, will be in strict conformity with the Constitution, and also with precedent.

The military officer can enter into no judicial examination of the claim of one man to the bone and muscle of another as property.

In such case he could only be guided by the Laws of War; and whatever may be the laws of any State, they must yield to the safety of the Federal Government.” Nothing can be clearer, stronger, or more to the point.

Thus have we example in the past as in the present, and from military quarters, pointing to a rule, which, though of seeming simplicity, would be of incalculable efficacy, if honestly and sincerely enforced.

Then would our camps become nurseries of freemen, and every common soldier a chain-breaker, while Slavery shrunk out of sight.

There is a higher agency that may be invoked, which is at the same time under the Constitution and above the Constitution: I mean Martial Law in its plenitude, and declared by solemn Proclamation.

But this does not convince me that your position is wrong, or that it will not be sustained by the country.

Almost every one whom I see thinks as I do about your speech, and regards it as eloquent, statesmanlike, and timely.

Unless there is a united North, united on the basis of the Constitution as it is, we are doomed to defeat.

Well, after all, your Cassandra-like prophecies as to the course of public affairs have come true to the letter.

Time will show whether your declaration at the Massachusetts Convention, that without Emancipation our war will be a vain masquerade of battles, will not also be realized.

If the party who have the responsible conduct of our war do not avail themselves of the power which the Law of Nations gives to them, whereby to strengthen themselves and defeat the Rebels, we shall find the party opposed to them will…

And when the time comes, as it must, that the South shall realize their own inevitable defeat, and shall see the alternative of submission or Emancipation, they will themselves initiate Freedom and secure Europe, unless before them we…

Nearly all our people have come to the conclusion, that, whenever it is necessary to crush out the Rebellion to abolish Slavery, then the Government must abolish it.

Ideas must reinforce our arms, or we shall neither deserve nor win a victory.

Strange they will not see that honesty is the best policy, as well as the best religion!

Before the Worcester Convention I was ready to declare that the people were only waiting to have the word Emancipation strongly pronounced to repeat it with the aggrandizement of a hundred thousand votes.

Give the bullets their billet, and the bayonets something to think about, and lend them a manifesto of Freedom to punctuate.

It is clear to me that it is impossible to save both the integrity of the Nation and Southern Slavery, and the great question before us now is, whether we shall sacrifice the Nation to Slavery, or Slavery to the Nation.

The spirit that condemns its argument or author is either the spirit of blind infatuation, or of treachery as foul as marks the Southern Confederates themselves.

It surprises and grieves me that Republicans wince and scold at the just lashing given to the grand conspirator against Liberty and Religion,--for in this contest they are identical.

The timeserving policy of multitudes who have hitherto acted with us, and, as it seems to me, of the Administration itself, is revolting, and puts far away the day of peace and prosperity.

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