m. In a word, Mr.
B's. whole course had been wanting in that courtesy which he had a
right to expect would be exhibited by one disputant towards another.
At the same time, he earnestly desired Mr. B. to state freely all he
thought of his motives and conduct.

A few moments yet remaining, he would say a word or two in reference
to the designs attributed to the abolitionists, in respect of the
privileges to which the colored people were entitled. He denied that
the abolitionists had ever asked for the blacks, either in regard to
political rights or social privileges, anything unreasonable. They
asked for their immediate release from personal bondage, and a
subsequent participation of civil rights; according to the amount in
which they possessed the qualifications demanded of others. Where, in
the documents of abolitionists, was the doctrine of instant and
universal enfranchisement, of which so much had been heard? He knew
not the abolitionist who had contended for such a thing. He asked
nothing for him over and above what would be freely bestowed on him if
he were white. Oh! it was an awful crime to have a black skin! There
lay all the disqualification.

The great fault which Mr. B. seemed to find with the principles of the
abolitionists was that they were too lofty; too grand; too little
accommodated to the spirit of the age; that, in the adoption of their
views and principles, they had not consulted the manners and habits
and prejudices of their country; and the whole of his (Mr.
Breckinridge's) argument had been in favor of expediency. He hated
that word "expediency," as ordinarily used. It contained, as he had
often said, the doctrine of devils. It was so congenial with our
depraved nature to make ourselves a little wiser than God--to believe
that we understood better than God's servants of old the best way of
reforming mankind. Oh! that men would take the Almighty at his word,
and simply doing their duty, leaving him to take care of consequences.
Doubtless, the dauntless Hebrew, Daniel, was deemed, in his day, a
rash man. He might so very easily have escaped the snare laid for him.
Why did he not go to the back of the house? Why not shut the window?
Why could he not pray silently to the searcher of hearts? Daniel
scorned compromise. He prayed as he had ever prayed--aloud--with his
window open, and his face to Jerusalem. He boldly met the
consequences. He walked to the lion's den--he entered, he remained:
but lo! o