The Congress condemned all loans and taxes for wars of ambition or conquest.

It earnestly recommended the friends of Peace to prepare public opinion, in their respective countries, for the formation of a Congress of Nations, to revise the existing International Law, and to constitute a High Tribunal for the…

In support of these objects, the Congress solemnly invoked the representatives of the press, so potent to diffuse truth, and also all ministers of religion, whose holy office it is to encourage good-will among men.

Not in the aspirations of religion and benevolence only, but in the general heart and mind, has it found reception, filling all who embrace it with new confidence in the triumph of Christian truth.

In making this appeal, the Committee desire to impress upon their fellow-citizens the practical character of the present movement.

Instead of the custom or institution of War, now recognized by International Law, as the Arbiter of Justice between Nations, they propose, by the consent of nations, to substitute a System of Arbitration, or a permanent Congress of Nations.

With this change will necessarily follow a general disarming down to that degree of force required for internal police.

The barbarous and incongruous War System, which now encases our Christian civilization as with a cumbrous coat of mail, will be destroyed.

The enormous means, thus released from destructive industry and purposes of hate, will be appropriated to productive industry and purposes of beneficence.

To help this consummation who will not labor?

The people in every part of the country, East and West, North and South, of all political parties and all religious sects, are now invited to join in this endeavor.

Sumner insisted that good citizens should refuse to it all support, as our fathers refused all support to the British Stamp Act.

His effort and hope were to create a public sentiment which would render its enforcement impossible.

In all times there has been something in the human conscience which forbade certain things, even though ordained by law.

I thank you for the cause, whose representative only I am.

Not by these have I been drawn here to-night, but because I would bear my testimony anew to that Freedom which is above all these.

And yet there are streaks of light--an unwonted dawn--in the distant West, out of which a full-orbed sun is beginning to ascend, rejoicing like a strong man to run a race.

For a measure like this, required not only by simplest justice, but by uniform practice, and by constitutional principles of slaveholders themselves, we may be ashamed to confess gratitude; and yet I cannot but rejoice in this great good.

It banishes from the National Capital an odious traffic.

Practically it affixes to the whole traffic, wherever it exists,--not merely in Washington, within the immediate sphere of the legislative act, but everywhere throughout the Slave States, whether at Richmond, or Charleston, or New…

The people of the United States, by the voice of Congress, solemnly declare the domestic traffic in slaves offensive in their sight.

To this extent the National Government speaks for Freedom.

And in doing this, it asserts, under the Constitution, legislative jurisdiction over the subject of Slavery in the District,--thus preparing the way for that complete act of Abolition which is necessary to purge the National Capital of its…

Two props and stays of Slavery are weakened and undermined by Congressional legislation.

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