Calumny and vituperation held high carnival in the legislative halls of this great nation.

The columns of the Daily Globe teemed with fierce and fiery denunciations of all who would not bow to the behests of pro-slavery power.

Depraved, corrupt, and polluted presses exerted themselves to the utmost in the work of slander and detraction; hireling scribblers for worse than hireling presses glutted themselves and made their meals on good men's names.

It is our privilege, it is our duty, to repel those assaults, that the world may know that when the advanced guard of freedom is attacked, "our feet shall be always in the arena, and our shields shall hang always in the lists.

Resolved, that the abolition of domestic slavery is the greatest object of desire in these colonies, where it was improperly introduced in their infant state.

They would be scourged, driven by violence from the State, and might be considered fortunate should they escape with their lives.

Such was the sentiment of North Carolina in 1774, as to the evil and great wrong of slavery.

Is not a great party now engaged in the ungrateful task of forging chains for a large portion of the people of this country?

Instead of supporting freedom, does it not advocate slavery and oppression?

Have we not reason to suspect that too many of our countrymen have ceased to be virtuous?

Their philanthropy was without regard to complexion; they abhorred slavery, as based on injustice and cruelty; and more, as dangerous to our liberties.

It was dangerous to liberty then; no man now apprehends any danger to liberty, unless from the same source.

It is daily threatened by men who are interested in slavery.

Liberty cannot be very secure where four million human beings are held in hopeless bondage--where human blood, bone, muscle, and, I might almost say, immortal souls, are articles of merchandise.

Upon the decease of my wife, it is my desire that the slaves whom I hold in my own right should receive their freedom.

I never mean, unless some particular circumstance should compel me, to possess another slave by purchase, it being my first wish to see some plan adopted by which slavery in this country may be abolished by law.

It will not be conceived, from these observations, that it is my wish to hold these unhappy people (negroes) in slavery.

I can only say that there is not a man living who wishes more sincerely than I do to see a plan adopted for the abolition of it.

Would to God a like spirit might diffuse itself generally into the people of this country!

Slavery is detested; we feel its fatal effects; we deplore it with all the pity of humanity.

I repeat again, that it would rejoice my very soul that every one of my fellow beings were emancipated.

We ought to lament and deplore the necessity of holding our fellow men in bondage.

There can be no other reason than the one given by George Mason eighty years ago: slavery produces a most pernicious effect upon manners.

This time-honored compact was annulled, the barrier between freedom and slavery broken down.