The great body of active abolitionists were from the slave States or else derived their inspiration from personal contact with slavery.

As compared with New England abolitionists, the middlestate folk were less extreme in their views.

They had a keener appreciation of the difficulties involved in emancipation.

They were more tolerant towards the idea of letting the country at large share the burdens involved in the liberation of the slaves.

Border-state abolitionists naturally favored the policy of gradual emancipation which had been followed in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.