The United States are a political state, or organized society, whose end is government, for the security, welfare, and happiness of all who live under its protection.

It is the maintenance of slavery by law in a state, not parallels of latitude, that makes its a southern state; and the absence of this, that makes it a northern state.

Simultaneously with the establishment of the Constitution, Virginia ceded to the United States her domain, which then extended to the Mississippi, and was even claimed to extend to the Pacific Ocean.

But there is a higher law than the Constitution, which regulates our authority over the domain, and devotes it to the same noble purposes.

Sir, there is no Christian nation, thus free to choose as we are, which would establish slavery.

Therefore, states are equal in natural rights.

We show our sympathy with slavery by emancipating slaves where we cannot reach them, and holding them in bondage where we can set them free.