Still, the north recognized the legal existence of slavery in the south, and did not propose to interfere with it, and was entirely content to faithfully observe the obligations of the constitution and the laws, including those for the…

Liberty is National, Slavery is Sectional," was their motto.

Slavery shall gain no advantage over freedom by violating compromises," was the cry of a new party, as yet without a name.

I knew this was a turning point, but made up my mind to be frank and honest, whatever might be the result.

I answered that I would not, that the great issue was the extension of slavery over the territories.

No encroachment upon their legislative or judicial prerogatives should be permitted from any quarter.

We will resent the spread of slavery under whatever shape or color it may be attempted.

Resolved, That the recent acts of violence and Civil War in Kansas, incited by the late Vice President of the United States, and tacitly encouraged by the Executive, command the emphatic condemnation of every citizen.

Resolved, That a proper retrenchment in all public expenditures, a thoroughly economical administration of our state government, a just and equal basis of taxation, and single districts for the election of members of the legislature, are…

That, as an express fundamental condition to the acquisition of any territory from the Republic of Mexico by the United States, neither slavery nor involuntary servitude should ever exist in any part of said territory." This proviso was…

The election of Senator Chase, upon a distinctly Republican platform, established the fact that the majority of the voters of Ohio were Republicans as defined by the creed of that party.

The Republican party then represented the progressive tendency of the age, the development of the country, the opposition to slavery and the preservation of the Union.

I understood him to take this position,--that the repeal of the Missouri Compromise was an act of great dishonor, and that under no circumstances whatever will he--if he have the power--allow the institution of human slavery to derive any…

I vote for him simply because he has had the manliness to say here, that, having the power, he will resist the encroachments of slavery, even by opposing the admission of any slave state that may be formed out of the territory north and…

In my reply I repeated my position in respect to the repeal of the Missouri Compromise, declaring: "If the repeal was wrong all northern and southern men alike ought to help to reinstate that restriction.

Nothing less than that will satisfy the country; and if it is not done, as it probably will not be, we will maintain our position of resisting the admission of Kansas as a slave state, under all possible circumstances.

And I say now, that until this wrong is righted, until Kansas is admitted as a free state, I cannot act in party association with them.

I do not propose to continue agitation; I only appear here to demand justice,--to demand compliance with compromises fully agreed upon and declared by law.

It is easy to perceive now that if this had been promptly done the slavery question would have been settled for many years.

It forced the irrepressible conflict in the most dangerous form.

It cannot be doubted that if the free condition of Kansas had been left undisturbed by Congress, that territory would have had a rapid, peaceful, and prosperous settlement.

Its climate, its soil, and its easy access to the older settlements, would have made it the favored course for the tide of emigration constantly flowing to the west, and in a brief period it would have been admitted to the Union as a free…

Their mutual interests and intercourse, instead of endangering the harmony of the Union, would have strengthened the ties of national brotherhood.

The testimony taken by the committee clearly showed that before the proposition to repeal the Missouri Compromise was introduced into Congress, the people of western Missouri were indifferent to the prohibition of slavery in the territory…

I worked hard that winter, for hard work, I thought, was the way to fortune.