The door of conciliation and compromise is finally closed by our adversaries, and it remains only to us to meet the conflict with the dignity and firmness of men worthy of freedom.

We have not sought this conflict; we have sought too long to avoid it; our forbearance has been construed into weakness, our magnanimity into fear, until the vindication of our manhood, as well as the defence of our rights, is required at our hands.

Give us equality of enjoyment, equal right to expansion - it is as necessary to our prosperity as yours.

The basis, the corner-stone of this Government, was the perfect equality of the free, sovereign, and independent States which made it.