I am afraid they have of late yielded for a time to one strong temptation and missed an opportunity for still greater glory, that never will come back.

But there was something in that struggle with slavery which exalted the hearts of those who had a part in it, however humble, as no other political battle in history.
Bliss it was in that dawn to be alive.
And, surely, to be young was far nearer Heaven than Wordsworth found France in the opening of the French Revolution.
I became of age at just about the time when the Free Soil Party, which was the Republican party in another form, was born.

In a very humble capacity I stood by its cradle.

It awakened in my heart in early youth all the enthusiasm of which my nature was capable, an enthusiasm which from that day to this has never grown cold.

No political party in history was ever formed for objects so great and noble.