46 lieving than in not believing therein. I must confess, however, that I do not succeed in explaining the return of the rebel states by their enthusiasm or their remorse. If I listen, moreover, at the doors of their conventions, I hear it said, sometimes^that it is necessary to submit to the federal government “as one submits to a highway robber,” sometimes, that it is necessary to accept the existing state of affairs “ until the sovereignty of the states is restored ;” sometimes even (and this is the point to which I wish above all to call attention), that it is necessary to make use of prudence, so as “ to join the copperhead party.” Whether this plan of campaign is or is not fixed in advance, it is so simple, it accords so well with the passions of the South, that its adoption cannot be doubted. If the question of slavery subsists in ever so small a degree, you will witness the formation of a slave party. And this party will bring back with it, or rather will seek to bring back the slave policy. This policy you know well—first, the violation of rights and the contempt of liberties, then quarrels abroad, lastly convulsions within and civil war. The new democratic party, I fear, will show itself worthy of the old one, sacrificing everything, if not to the resurrection of slavery, at least to the maintenance of the serfhood of the negroes ; it will reject with angry violence all efforts designed to protect and elevate the negroes, it will seek to turn your thoughts toward conquest, toward Mexico and Canada ; it will begin anew to preach bankruptcy, faithful in this to its precedents ; then, when it shall have endangered everything, your liberties, your finances, your foreign relations, your tranquillity, and your honor, it will find a good opportunity to resume with the best chances of success, and supported by more resolute allies, the enterprise which has just failed. Mr. President, either you will kill your enemy or it will kill you. Either you will efface the negro question by terminating it before the South meddles therewith, or this question will furnish the basis of a new slave party, a new slave policy, a new insurrection for slavery. What is left of slave
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