It would be contrary to the spirit of the American Government to use force to subjugate the South.

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.

The two systems slave and free-labor are incompatible. They have never permanently existed together in one country, and they never can.

But I deny that the Constitution recognizes property in man.

There is a higher law than the Constitution.

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