Slavery Quotes

A house divided against itself cannot stand. I believe this government cannot endure permanently half slave and half free.

My paramount object in this struggle is to save the Union ... If I could save the Union without freeing any slave... if I could save it by freeing all the slaves... I shall do more whenever I shall believe doing more will help the cause.

Whenever I hear anyone arguing for slavery I feel a strong impulse to see it tried on him personally.

It has so happened in all ages of the world, that some have labored, and others have, without labor, enjoyed a large proportion of the fruits.

Although volume upon volume is written to prove slavery a very good thing, we never hear of the man who wishes to take the good of it, by being a slave himself.

If the negro is a man, why then my ancient faith teaches me that ``all men are created equal;'' and that there can be no moral right in connection with one man's making a slave of another.

Slavery is founded in the selfishness of man's nature - opposition to it is [in] his love of justice.

I have always hated slavery, I think as much as any Abolitionist.

As I would not be a slave, so I would not be a master. This expresses my idea of democracy. Whatever differs from this, to the extent of the difference, is no democracy.

I confess myself as belonging to that class in the country who contemplate slavery as a moral, social and political evil

Free labor has the inspiration of hope; pure slavery has no hope.

We must have though a man who recognizes the slavery issue as being the living issue of the day; who does not hesitate to declare slavery a wrong, nor to deal with it as such; who believes in the power and duty of Congress to prevent the spread of it.

What brought these Democrats with us? The Slavery issue. Drop that issue and they have no motive to remain, and will not remain with us. It is idiotic to think otherwise.

God gave man a mouth to receive bread, hands to feed it, and his hand has a right to carry bread to his mouth without controversy.

I think that if anything can be proved by natural theology, it is that slavery is morally wrong.

Whether we will or not, the question of Slavery is THE question, the all absorbing topic of the day.

Our best and greatest men have greatly underestimated the size of this [slavery] question. They have constantly brought forward small cures for great sores - plasters too small to cover the wound.

Let there be no compromise on the question of extending slavery. If there be, all our labor is lost, and, ere long, must be done again.

You know I think the fugitive slave clause of the constitution ought to be enforced - to put it on the mildest form, ought not to be resisted.

Prevent ... our friends from demoralizing themselves, and our cause, by entertaining propositions for compromise of any sort, on 'slavery extention.' ... On that point hold firm, as with a chain of steel.