Mr.President, 　　NomanthinksmorehighlythanIdoofthepatriotism,aswellasabilities,oftheveryworthygentlemenwhohavejustaddressedtheHouse.Butdifferentmenoftenseethesamesubjectindifferentlights;and,therefore,Ihopeitwillnotbethoughtdisrespectfultothosegentlemenif,entertainingasIdoopinionsofacharacterveryoppositetotheirs,Ishallspeakforthmysentimentsfreelyandwithoutreserve.Thisisnotimeforceremony.ThequestingbeforetheHouseisoneofawfulmomenttothiscountry.Formyownpart,Iconsideritasnothinglessthanaquestionoffreedomorslavery;andinproportiontothemagnitudeofthesubjectoughttobethefreedomofthedebate.Itisonlyinthiswaythatwecanhopetoarriveattruth,andfulfillthegreatresponsibilitywhichweholdtoGodandourcountry.ShouldIkeepbackmyopinionsatsuchatime,throughfearofgivingoffense,Ishouldconsidermyselfasguiltyoftreasontowardsmycountry,andofanactofdisloyaltytowardtheMajestyofHeaven,whichIrevereaboveallearthlykings. 　　Mr.President,itisnaturaltomantoindulgeintheillusionsofhope.Weareapttoshutoureyesagainstapainfultruth,andlistentothesongofthatsirentillshetransformsusintobeasts.Isthisthepartofwisemen,engagedinagreatandarduousstruggleforliberty?Arewedisposedtobeofthenumberofthosewho,havingeyes,seenot,and,havingears,hearnot,thethingswhichsonearlyconcerntheirtemporalsalvation?Formypart,whateveranguishofspirititmaycost,Iamwillingtoknowthewholetruth;toknowtheworst,andtoprovideforit. 　　Ihavebutonelampbywhichmyfeetareguided,andthatisthelampofexperience.Iknowofnowayofjudgingofthefuturebutbythepast.Andjudgingbythepast,IwishtoknowwhattherehasbeenintheconductoftheBritishministryforthelasttenyearstojustifythosehopeswithwhichgentlemenhavebeenpleasedtosolacethemselvesandtheHouse.Isitthatinsidioussmilewithwhichourpetitionhasbeenlatelyreceived?Trustitnot,sir;itwillproveasnaretoyourfeet.Suffernotyourselvestobebetrayedwithakiss.Askyourselveshowthisgraciousreceptionofourpetitioncomportswiththosewarlikepreparationswhichcoverourwatersanddarkenourland.Arefleetsandarmiesnecessarytoaworkofloveandreconciliation?Haveweshownourselvessounwillingtobereconciledthatforcemustbecalledintowinbackourlove?Letusnotdeceiveourselves,sir.Thesearetheimplementsofwarandsubjugation;thelastargumentstowhichkingsresort.Iaskgentlemen,sir,whatmeansthismartialarray,ifitspurposebenottoforceustosubmission?Cangentlemenassignanyotherpossiblemotiveforit?HasGreatBritainanyenemy,inthisquarteroftheworld,tocallforallthisaccumulationofnaviesandarmies?No,sir,shehasnone.Theyaremeantforus:theycanbemeantfornoother.TheyaresentovertobindandrivetuponusthosechainswhichtheBritishministryhavebeensolongforging.Andwhathavewetoopposetothem?Shallwetryargument?Sir,wehavebeentryingthatforthelasttenyears.Haveweanythingnewtoofferuponthesubject?Nothing.Wehaveheldthesubjectupineverylightofwhichitiscapable;butithasbeenallinvain.Shallweresorttoentreatyandhumblesupplication?Whattermsshallwefindwhichhavenotbeenalreadyexhausted?Letusnot,Ibeseechyou,sir,deceiveourselves.Sir,wehavedoneeverythingthatcouldbedonetoavertthestormwhichisnowcomingon.