Sir, there is no Christian nation, thus free to choose as we are, which would establish slavery.

There is not only no free state which would now establish it, but there is no slave state, which, if it had had the free alternative as we now have, would have founded slavery.

America should function as a Christian nation.

There's a lot of America that's Christian. I would not describe us, though, on the whole, as a Christian nation.

Are we a Christian nation now? It's doubtful. But did we start out as one? Without question.

If slavery, limited as it yet is, now threatens to subvert the Constitution, how can we as wise and prudent statesmen, enlarge its boundaries and increase its influence, and thus increase already impending dangers?