Before proceeding let me say that I think I have no prejudice against the Southern people.  They are just what we would be in their situation.  If slavery did not now exist among them, they would not introduce it.  If it did now exist among us, we should not instantly give it up.  This I believe of the masses North and South.  Doubtless there are individuals on both sides who would not hold slaves under any circumstances, and others who would gladly introduce slavery anew if it were out of existence.  We know that some Southern men do free their slaves, go North and become tip-top Abolitionists, while some Northern ones go South and become most cruel slave-masters.

When Southern people tell us they are no more responsible for the origin of slavery than we are, I acknowledge the fact.  When it is said that the institution exists, and that it is very difficult to get rid of it in any satisfactory way, I can understand and appreciate the saying.  I surely will not blame them for not doing what I should not know how to do myself.  If all earthly power were given me, I should not know what to do as to the existing institution.  My first impulse would be to free all the slaves, and send them to Liberia, to their own native land.  But a moment’s reflection would convince me that whatever of high hope (as I think there is) there may be in this in the long run, its sudden execution is impossible.  If they were all landed there in a day, they would all perish in the next ten days; and there are not surplus shipping and surplus money enough to carry them there in many times ten days.  What then?  Free them all, and keep them among us as underlings?  Is it quite certain that this betters their condition?  I think I would not hold one in slavery at any rate, yet the point is not clear enough for me to denounce people upon.  What next?  Free them, and make them politically and socially our equals?  My own feelings will not admit of this, and if mine would, we well know that those of the great mass of whites will not.  Whether this feeling accords with justice and sound judgment is not the sole question, if indeed it is any part of it.  A universal feeling, whether well or ill founded, cannot be safely disregarded.  We cannot then make them equals.  It does seem to me that systems of gradual emancipation might be adopted, but for their tardiness in this I will not undertake to judge our brethren of the South.

Equal justice to the South, it is said, requires us to consent to the extension of slavery to new countries.  That is to say, that inasmuch as you do not object to my taking my hog to Nebraska, therefore I must not object to your taking your slave.  Now, I admit that this is perfectly logical, if there is no difference between hogs and slaves.  But while you thus require me to deny the humanity of the negro, I wish to ask whether you of the South, yourselves, have ever been willing to do as much?  It is kindly provided that of all those who come into the world, only a