A few years' experience will convince us that those things which at the time they happened we regarded as our greatest misfortunes have proved our greatest blessings.

As much as I value an union of all the states, I would not admit the southern states into the union, unless they agreed to the discontinuance of this disgracef…

The question then will be, whether a consolidated government can preserve the freedom and secure the rights of the people.

The augmentation of slaves weakens the states; and such a trade is diabolical in itself, and disgraceful to mankind.