816 HILLS AND LAKES, 



this country bein' the home of the free, and a place for 

 the oppressed of all nations of the airth to find their 

 rights, and their nateral position in, when in one-half 

 of these States, and in the ten miles square where the 

 Congress is held, and which belongs to all the people of 

 the Union, the very worst sort of oppression and wrong 

 is carried on, under the sanction of law, and by the au- 

 thority of the constitooshun. Oppression and wrong, 

 that takes away froin thinkin', and reflectin' men, and 

 women, every right that pertains to 'em as human 

 creeters, and makes 'em things to be traded on, to be 

 bought and sold like oxen, or bags of wheat, or bales 

 of cotton. It's a great shame, and a burnin' reproach, 

 and I don't wonder that kings and emperors and great 

 lords of other countries, turn up their noses at the 

 idee of our preachin to them, about knockin' the 

 chains of despotism off the necks of their people. 



But as I said before, I ain't goin off on a cruise 

 agin' slavery. May be I don't understand it, as I 

 don't claim to be a wise man, and never was among it. 

 I shan't quarrel with the slave States about upholdin' 

 it* If they think it a blessin' they've a right to enjoy it, 

 so far as I'm concerned, and I've no right to interfere 

 with 'em in doin' so, and New York hasn't any right 



