and out of season_ (no, it can never be out
of season)--in order to _effect its overthrow_. (Loud applause.)
Higher yet will be my cry. Upward and onward! No union with
slave-holders! Down with this slave-holding government! Let this
'covenant with death and agreement with hell' be annulled! _Let
there be a free, independent, Northern republic_, and _the speedy
abolition of slavery_ will inevitably follow! (Loud applause.) So
I am laboring to dissolve this blood-stained Union as a work of
paramount importance. Our mission is to regenerate public
opinion."

The Calhounites sought the dissolution of the Union in order that
another Union might be formed _with_ slavery as its chief
corner-stone. Inspired by this hope and misguided by the apparent
sympathy of the North, Southern statesmen began _preparations to
dissolve the Union of the United States_.

During these years of agitation and discussion, although the foreign
slave-trade had been suppressed, the slave population increased at a
wonderful ratio.

CENSUS OF 1830.--SLAVE POPULATION.

District of Columbia 6,119
Delaware 3,292
Florida 15,501
Georgia 217,531
Illinois 747
Kentucky 165,213
Louisiana 109,588
Maryland 102,994
Alabama 117,549
Mississippi 65,659
Missouri 25,091
New Jersey 2,254
North Carolina 245,601
South Carolina 315,401
Tennessee 141,603
Virginia 469,757
Arkansas 4,576
---------
Aggregate 2,008,476

Now, this was the year the agitation movement began. Instead of the
slave population decreasing during the first decade of anti-slavery
discussion and work, it really increased 478,412![36]

CENSUS OF 1840.--SLAVE POPULATION.

Alabama 253,532
Arkansas 19,935
District of Columbia 4,694
Delaware 2,605
Florida 25,717
Georgia 280,944
Illinois 331
Kentucky 182,258
Louisiana 168,452
Maryland 89,737
Missis