On the one hand, there stood slavery; a stern reality, glaring frightfully upon us, with the blood of millions in his polluted skirts--terrible to behold--greedily devouring our hard earnings and feeding himself upon our flesh.

Here was the evil from which to escape.

On the other hand, far away, back in the hazy distance, where all forms seemed but shadows, under the flickering light of the north star--behind some craggy hill or snow-covered mountain--stood a doubtful freedom, half frozen, beckoning us to her icy domain.

This was the good to be sought.

The inequality was as great as that between certainty and uncertainty.