It is enough that a wicked rebellion has undertaken to detach certain States from the Union, and to take them beyond its protection and sovereignty, with the menace of seeking foreign alliance and support, even at the cost of every…

Madison anticipated this precise danger from Slavery, and upheld this precise grant of power in order to counteract the danger.

The danger which this statesman foresaw is now upon us.

When a State fails to maintain a republican government, with officers sworn according to requirement of the Constitution, it ceases to be a constitutional State.

There is nothing in the storehouse of peace, and there is nothing in the arsenal of war, it may not employ in the maintenance of this solemn guaranty, and in the extension of that protection against invasion to which it is pledged.

But this extraordinary power carries with it corresponding duty.

But the vital act must proceed from Congress.

Against this power I have heard nothing which can be called argument.

There are objections, originating chiefly in the baneful pretension of State Rights; but these objections are animated by prejudice rather than reason.

Assuming the impeccability of a State, and openly declaring that States, like kings, can do no wrong, while, like kings, they wear “the round and top of sovereignty,” politicians treat them with most mistaken forbearance and tenderness, as…

To my mind nothing can be clearer, as a proposition of Constitutional Law, than that everywhere within the exclusive jurisdiction of the National Government Slavery is impossible.

Still, I think it doubtful whether England will consider that she has really abandoned any of her previous pretensions by demanding and accepting the men.

It is grand,--dealing just right with the British, and putting us on the highest grounds.

You have said the best things that could be said, in the best manner.

I greatly rejoice that the traitor villains are given up, for we cannot afford a war with England when we have this diabolical Rebellion.

With all its shortcomings and shilly-shallying, what a glorious nation this North is!

The argument could not be more forcibly presented, or in a manner better fitted to enlighten and confirm the sense of national dignity here, and to give the right direction to public opinion abroad.

It is a thorough, exhaustive, and most able piece of argument,--by far the most so which that question called forth,--and extorts praise even from enemies.

The truth is, that at last you have satisfied even the commercial community, and they acknowledge that you have more than ‘one idea.’ They express surprise to find that you have attended to anything but Slavery, which they supposed had…

But it equally astonished and delighted your best friends and worst enemies, and won for you a host of new admirers.

It was the most masterly and powerfully convincing argument I have ever read of yours on any subject.

The people, the press, the nation, the world, will ever delight to honor the man that displayed the genius equal to such a rare opportunity, and was ready to strike so powerful a blow against a terrible wrong long endured, and in favor of…

It was most timely and salutary, and most certainly the great speech of the session in a higher than a rhetorical sense.

The speech is applauded on all sides, even by those who do not love our party or you any too well.… The peroration is particularly splendid, argumentative, eloquent, and wise.

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