claims to property in man But, sir, there are claims
anterior to all human laws, and superior to all
political institutions, which are immutable in their
nature,--claims which are the birthright of every human
being, of every clime, and of every color,--claims which
God has conferred, and which man cannot destroy without
sacrilege, or infringe without sin. Personal liberty is
among these, the greatest and best, for it is the root
of all other rights, the conservative principle of human
associations, the spring of public virtues, and
essential to national strength and greatness.

"'The monstrous and wicked assumption of power by man,
over his fellow man, which slavery implies, is alike
abhorrent to the moral sense of mankind; to the
immutable principles of justice; to the righteous laws
of God; and to the benevolent principles of the gospel.
It is, therefore, indignantly repudiated by all the
fundamental laws of all truly enlightened and civilized
communities, and by none more emphatically than by that
over which, Sir, it is your honor to preside.

"'The great doctrine, that God hath "created all men
equal, and endowed them with certain inalienable rights,
and that amongst these are life, liberty, and the
pursuit of happiness," is affirmed in your Declaration
of Independence, and justified in the theory of your
constitutional laws. But there is a stain upon your
glory; slavery, in its most abject and revolting form,
pollutes your soil; the wailings of slaves mingle with
your songs of liberty; and the clank of their chains is
heard, in horrid discord with the chorus of your
triumphs.

"'The records of your States are not less distinguished
by their wise provisions for securing the order and
maintaining the institutions of your country, than by
their ingenious devices for riveting the chains, and
perpetuating the degradation of your colored brethren;
their education is branded as a crime against the
State--their freedom is dreaded as a blasting
pestilence--the bare suggestion of their emancipation is
proscribed as treason to the cause of American
independence.

"'These things are utt