He had been opposed to the institution on grounds of sentiment since his boyhood; now he determined to fight it from principle.

Mr.Herndon states that Lincoln really became an anti-slavery man in 1831, during his visit to New Orleans, where he was deeply affected by the horrors of the traffic in human beings.

On one occasion he saw a slave, a beautiful mulatto girl, sold at auction.

She was felt over, pinched, and trotted around to show bidders she was sound.

Lincoln walked away from the scene with a feeling of deep abhorrence.