Now, at the end of three years struggle the nation's condition is not what either party, or any man devised, or expected. God alone can claim it.

It must now atone in blood for its complicity in wickedness.

Character is like a tree and reputation like a shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing.

An inspection of the Constitution will show that the right of property in a slave in not "distinctly and expressly affirmed" in it.

So viewing the issue, no choice was left but to call out the war power of the Government; and so to resist force, employed for its destruction, by force, for its preservation.

Men are not flattered by being shown that there has been a difference of purpose between the Almighty and them.

Let there be no compromise on the question of extending slavery. If there be, all our labor is lost, and, ere long, must be done again.