Page:The World's Famous Orations Volume 9.djvu/174

THE WORLD'S FAMOUS ORATIONS lot-box, more precious than any work, in ivory or marble, from the cunning hand of art, has been plundered; and where the cry, **I am an Ameri- can citizen, ' ' has been interposed in vain against outrage of every kind, even upon life itself. Are you against sacrilege ? I present it for your execration. Are you against robbery? I hold it up to your scorn. Are you for the protection of American citizens? I show you how their dearest rights have been cloven down, while a tyrannical usurpation has sought to instal it- self on their very necks! But the wickedness which I now begin to ex- pose is immeasurably aggravated by the motive which prompted it. Not in any common lust for power did this uncommon tragedy have its origin. It is the rape of a virgin Territory, com- pelling it to the hateful embracr of slavery ; and it may be clearly traced to a depraved longing for a new slave State, the hideous offspring of such a crime, in the hope of adding to the pow- er of slavery in the national government. Yes, sir, when the whole world, alike Christian and Turk, is rising up to condemn this wrong, and to make it a hissing to the nations, here in our Republic, force — ay, sir, force — has been open- ly employed in compelling Kansas to this pol- lution, and all for the sake of political power. There is the simple fact which you will in vain attempt to deny, but which in itself pre- sents an essential wickedness that makes other public crimes seem like public virtues. 164