The real issue in this controversy—­the one dressing upon every mind—­is the sentiment on the part of one class that looks upon the institution of slavery as a wrong, and of another class that does not look upon it as a wrong.  The sentiment that contemplates the institution of slavery in this country as a wrong is the sentiment of the Republican party.  It is the sentiment around which all their actions, all their arguments, circle; from which all their propositions radiate.  They look upon it as being a moral, social, and political wrong; and while they contemplate it as such, they nevertheless have due regard for its actual existence among us, and the difficulties of getting rid of it in any satisfactory way, and to all the constitutional obligations thrown about it.  Yet, having a due regard for these, they desire a policy in regard to it that looks to its not creating any more danger.  They insist that it, as far as may be, be treated as a wrong; and one of the methods of treating it as a wrong is to make provision that it shall grow no larger.  They also desire a policy that looks to a peaceful end of slavery some time, as being a wrong.  These are the views they entertain in regard to it, as I understand them; and all their sentiments, all their arguments and propositions are brought within this range, I have said, and I here repeat it, that if there be a man amongst us who does not think that the institution of slavery is wrong in any one of the aspects of which I have spoken, he is misplaced, and ought not to be with us.  And if there be a man amongst us who is so impatient of it as a wrong as to disregard its actual presence among us, and the difficulty of getting rid of it suddenly in a satisfactory way, and to disregard the constitutional obligations thrown about it, that man is misplaced if he is on our platform.  We disclaim sympathy with him in practical action.  He is not placed properly with us.

On this subject of treating it as a wrong and limiting its spread, let me say a word.  Has anything ever threatened the existence of this Union save and except this very institution of slavery?  What is it that we hold most dear amongst us?  Our own liberty and prosperity.  What has ever threatened our liberty and prosperity save and except this institution of slavery?  If this is true, how do you propose to improve the condition of things by enlarging slavery,—­by spreading it out and making it bigger?  You may have a wen or a cancer upon your person, and not be able to cut it out lest you bleed to death; but surely it is no way to cure it, to engraft it and spread it over your whole body.  That is no proper way of treating what you regard as a wrong.  You see this peaceful way of dealing with it as a wrong,—­restricting the spread of it, and not allowing it to go into new countries where it has not already existed.  That is the peaceful way—­the old-fashioned way—­the way in which the fathers themselves set us the example.