124 
freedom. He saw clearly that the ambitious designs of the 
Slave power must be strenuously opposed and defeated at 
that point. He was satisfied, as many others were, that 
ukewarmness or indifference then might be fatal to the 
interests of freedom throughout the republic for generations’ 
to come. That was one of the turning-points in our national 
destiny. A profound regard for justice and the rights of 
humanity and the honor of the nation urged him to do every- 
thing in his power to prevent the further extension of slavery 
in the Territories. 
When the purposes of the slave power culminated in 
armed secesssion, there was but one course before him. It 
was to sustain the government and put down the rebellion by 
every means in the power of a great and free people. In 
the disruption of the government, and the establishment 
upon our borders of a political power based on human 
slavery as its “chief corner-stone,” he saw nothing but 
national humiliation, disaster, and ruin. His country, entire 
and undivided, its Constitution and equal laws securing free- 
dom and protection alike to all, —these were the objects of 
his profound regard. And higher objects than these the 
loftiest patriotism has, perhaps, never achieved. 
T have yet to speak of our associate as a Christian. With- 
out this, all that I have said and all that could be said would 
leave his real character unfinished, — nay, almost distorted 
and deformed. Carly in life he became convinced of the 
truth of revealed religion and of his personal duty in response 
to its mandates. He made a public profession of his faith in 
Christ while a tutor in college, and became a member of the 
College Church. For more than threescore years, in all 
___ the relations of life, he exemplified the virtue of the Christian 
character. At the time of his death he was, with one excep- 
tion, the oldest member of the College Church. If I may 
‘ 
= 
