65 cire not to forget that God has his ways, which are not ours, and that he may have means of reparation and safety in store for you which our short-sighted eyes fail to discern. In any case, and I am anxious to end with this thought, I have confidence that the God which has guarded and led you will guard and lead you to the end. This work of deliverance is indeed his own, and this it is which makes my security. Yes, my security. Although I have spoken to you of the perils which, I fear, arc only too real, it is impossible for me .not to believe that, even though should it be retarded and imperilled by your errors, your work of uprising will some day be finished. But why not finish it to-day ? Why not avert the perils, the prolonged conflicts, the national suffering, the iniquities, in fine, which are in danger of accumulating before your steps ? Why force both the negro race and the whole country to pass through calamities which a little opportune energy would have prevented ? You who have done so much—you will not suffer the fruit of four years of strife to be snatched from you at the last moment. You, who know now that slavery is your sole enemy—you will not permit any relic of the conflict of slavery to survive. You who have walked with so firm a step in the path of justice—you will not'allow yourself to fie arrested at the very moment when one more step would take you to the. end. The end—this is the common law, the liberty of all, the equality of all. How glorious will this be I What joy is in store for you on the day when you can say to your sons, “ And I too was among those who won this battle !” This battle will socially redeem a whole race, and will insure what may be called the second foundation of the United States. Aftci’ this, there will be a sure peace ; after this, there will be the triumph of a new policy, a national and liberal policy ; [after this, there will be no more sectional strife; 9
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