The whole hope of human progress is suspended on the ever-growing influence of the Bible.

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

But you answer, that the Constitution recognizes property in slaves. It would be sufficient, then, to reply, that this constitutional recognition must be void, because it is repugnant to the law of nature and of nations.

But the Constitution was made not only for southern and northern states, but for states neither northern nor southern, namely, the western states, their coming in being foreseen and provided for.

The circumstances of the world are so variable that an irrevocable purpose or opinion is almost synonymous with a foolish one.

I deem it established, then, that the Constitution does not recognize property in man, but leaves that question, as between the states, to the law of nature and of nations.

I speak on due consideration because Britain, France, and Mexico, have abolished slavery, and all other European states are preparing to abolish it as speedily as they can.