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That once familiar word。〃
They have slaughtered one of his most cherished measures； and his
ghost would arise to rebuke them。 ＇Great applause。＇
Now； let us harmonize； my friends； and appeal to the moderation
and patriotism of the people： to the sober second thought； to the
awakened public conscience。 The repeal of the sacred Missouri
Compromise has installed the weapons of violence： the bludgeon；
the incendiary torch； the death…dealing rifle； the bristling
cannonthe weapons of kingcraft； of the inquisition； of
ignorance； of barbarism； of oppression。 We see its fruits in the
dying bed of the heroic Sumner； in the ruins of the 〃Free State〃
hotel； in the smoking embers of the Herald of Freedom； in the
free…State Governor of Kansas chained to a stake on freedom's
soil like a horse…thief； for the crime of freedom。 ＇Applause。＇
We see it in Christian statesmen； and Christian newspapers； and
Christian pulpits applauding the cowardly act of a low bully； WHO
CRAWLED UPON HIS VICTIM BEHIND HIS BACK AND DEALT THE DEADLY
BLOW。 ＇Sensation and applause。＇ We note our political
demoralization in the catch…words that are coming into such
common use； on the one hand； 〃freedom…shriekers；〃 and sometimes
〃freedom…screechers〃 ＇Laughter＇； and； on the other hand； 〃border…
ruffians；〃 and that fully deserved。 And the significance of
catch…words cannot pass unheeded； for they constitute a sign of
the times。 Everything in this world 〃jibes〃 in with everything
else； and all the fruits of this Nebraska Bill are like the
poisoned source from which they come。 I will not say that we may
not sooner or later be compelled to meet force by force； but the
time has not yet come； and； if we are true to ourselves； may
never come。 Do not mistake that the ballot is stronger than the
bullet。 Therefore let the legions of slavery use bullets； but
let us wait patiently till November and fire ballots at them in
return； and by that peaceful policy I believe we shall ultimately
win。 ＇Applause。＇
It was by that policy that here in Illinois the early fathers
fought the good fight and gained the victory。 In 1824 the free
men of our State； led by Governor Coles （who was a native of
Maryland and President Madison's private secretary）； determined
that those beautiful groves should never re…echo the dirge of one
who has no title to himself。 By their resolute determination；
the winds that sweep across our broad prairies shall never cool
the parched brow； nor shall the unfettered streams that bring joy
and gladness to our free soil water the tired feet； of a slave；
but so long as those heavenly breezes and sparkling streams bless
the land； or the groves and their fragrance or memory remain； the
humanity to which they minister SHALL BE FOREVER FREE！ ＇Great
applause＇ Palmer； Yates； Williams； Browning； and some more in
this convention came from Kentucky to Illinois （instead of going
to Missouri）； not only to better their conditions； but also to
get away from slavery。 They have said so to me； and it is
understood among us Kentuckians that we don't like it one bit。
Now； can we； mindful of the blessings of liberty which the early
men of Illinois left to us； refuse a like privilege to the free
men who seek to plant Freedom's banner on our Western outposts？
＇〃No！〃 〃No！〃＇ Should we not stand by our neighbors who seek to
better their conditions in Kansas and Nebraska？ ＇〃Yes！〃 〃Yes！〃＇
Can we as Christian men； and strong and free ourselves； wield the
sledge or hold the iron which is to manacle anew an already
oppressed race？ ＇〃No！〃 〃No！〃＇ 〃Woe unto them；〃 it is written；
〃that decree unrighteous decrees and that write grievousness
which they have prescribed。〃 Can we afford to sin any more deeply
against human liberty？ ＇〃No！〃 〃No！〃＇
One great trouble in the matter is； that slavery is an insidious
and crafty power； and gains equally by open violence of the
brutal as well as by sly management of the peaceful。 Even after
the Ordinance of 1787； the settlers in Indiana and Illinois （it
was all one government then） tried to get Congress to allow
slavery temporarily； and petitions to that end were sent from
Kaskaskia； and General Harrison； the Governor； urged it from
Vincennes； the capital。 If that had succeeded； good…bye to
liberty here。 But John Randolph of Virginia made a vigorous
report against it； and although they persevered so well as to get
three favorable reports for it； yet the United States Senate；
with the aid of some slave States； finally squelched if for good。
＇Applause。＇ And that is why this hall is to…day a temple for free
men instead of a negro livery…stable。 ＇Great applause and
laughter。＇ Once let slavery get planted in a locality； by ever so
weak or doubtful a title； and in ever so small numbers； and it is
like the Canada thistle or Bermuda grassyou can't root it out。
You yourself may detest slavery； but your neighbor has five or
six slaves； and he is an excellent neighbor； or your son has
married his daughter； and they beg you to help save their
property； and you vote against your interests and principle to
accommodate a neighbor； hoping that your vote will be on the
losing side。 And others do the same； and in those ways slavery
gets a sure foothold。 And when that is done the whole mighty
Unionthe force of the nationis committed to its support。 And
that very process is working in Kansas to…day。 And you must
recollect that the slave property is worth a billion of dollars；
while free…State men must work for sentiment alone。 Then there
are 〃blue lodges〃as they call themeverywhere doing their
secret and deadly work。
It is a very strange thing； and not solvable by any moral law
that I know of； that if a man loses his horse； the whole country
will turn out to help hang the thief； but if a man but a shade or
two darker than I am is himself stolen； the same crowd will hang
one who aids in restoring him to liberty。 Such are the
inconsistencies of slavery； where a horse is more sacred than a
man； and the essence of squatter or popular sovereigntyI don't
care how you call itis that if one man chooses to make a slave
of another； no third man shall be allowed to object。 And if you
can do this in free Kansas； and it is allowed to stand； the next
thing you will see is shiploads of negroes from Africa at the
wharf at Charleston； for one thing is as truly lawful as the
other； and these are the bastard notions we have got to stamp
out； else they will stamp us out。 ＇Sensation and applause。＇
Two years ago； at Springfield； Judge Douglas avowed that Illinois
came into the Union as a slave State； and that slavery was weeded
out by the operation of his great； patent； everlasting principle
of 〃popular sovereignty。〃 ＇Laughter。＇ Well； now； that argument
must be answered； for it has a little grain of truth at the
bottom。 I do not mean that it is true in essence； as he would
have us believe。 It could not be essentially true if the
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