ters of the imperial river, from their
mountain springs and crystal fountains, shall ever flow in commingling
currents to the Gulf, uniting ever more, in one undivided whole, the
blessed homes of a free and happy people. This great valley is one vast
plain, without an intervening mountain, and can never be separated by
any line but that of blood, to be followed, surely, by military
despotism. No! separation, by any line, is death; disunion is suicide.
Slavery having made war upon the Union, the result is not doubtful.
Slavery will die. (_Cheers._) Slavery having selected a traitor's
position, will meet a traitor's doom. (_Loud cheers._) The Union will
still live. It is written by the finger of God on the scroll of destiny,
that neither principalities nor powers shall effect its overthrow, nor
shall 'the gates of hell prevail against it.' But what as to the
results? It is said that we have accomplished nothing, and this is
re-echoed every morning by the proslavery press of England. We have done
nothing! Why, we have conquered and now occupy two thirds of the entire
territory of the South, an area far larger (and overcoming a greater
resisting force) than that traversed by the armies of Caesar or
Alexander. The whole of the Mississippi River, from its source to its
mouth, with, all its tributaries, is exclusively ours. (_Cheers._) So is
the great Chesapeake Bay. Slavery is not only abolished in the Federal
District, containing the capital of the Union, but in all our vast
territorial domain, comprising more than eight hundred millions of
acres, and nearly half the size of all Europe. The four slaveholding
States of Delaware, Maryland, Kentucky, and Missouri, are all devotedly
loyal, and thoroughly sustaining the Union. And how as to Virginia? Why,
all the counties of Virginia east of the Chesapeake are ours. All that
vast portion of Eastern Virginia north of the Rappahannock is ours also;
but still more, all that great territory of Virginia, from the mountains
to the Ohio, is ours also, and, not only ours, but, by the overwhelming
voice of her people, has formed a State government. By their own votes
they have abolished slavery, and have been admitted as one of the Free
States of the American Union. (_Loud cheers._) And where is the great
giant State of the West--Missouri? She is not only ours, but, by an
overwhelming majority of the popular vote, carried into effect by her
constitutional convention, has abolished slavery,