This led him to touch upon slavery.

He said:-- "I frankly avow my entire unwillingness to do anything that shall extend the slavery of the African race on this continent, or add other slave-holding States to the Union.

When I say that I regard slavery in itself as a great moral, social, and political evil, I only use the language which has been adopted by distinguished men, themselves citizens of slave-holding States.

I shall do nothing, therefore, to favor or encourage its further extension.

We have slavery already amongst us.