"You say they have the right of property in their slaves. Suppose they have, how sacred is this right of property? I want to argue the moral question of it. How sacred is this right of property in the living bodies and souls of men? Just as sacred as it is in a horse? Just as sacred as the tenure of property in a mule? Suppose it is, you own them. As you own a horse or mule. Is the right of property in a horse more sacred than my life? Is the right of property in a mule more sacred than my right to free speech? I tell them, and I tell the people all over the country, if they have a system of an institution that will not allow me to live or speak or read my papers, or worship my God as I please, then I say in God's name that thing must die. My rights I will have!"
Quote Details
Added by wikiquote-import-bot
Unverified quote
0 likes
AbolitionistsChristian leadersMembers of the United States House of RepresentativesPoliticians from IllinoisClergy from the United States
Original Language: English
Available Languages (1)
Sources
As quoted in His Brother's Blood: Speeches and Writings, 1838–64 (2004), edited by William Frederick Moore and Jane Ann Moore, p. 238
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Owen_Lovejoy
Revision History
No revisions have been submitted for this quote.
Categories
Owen Lovejoy
40 quotes on TrueQuotesView all quotes by Owen Lovejoy →
Related Quotes
"Nobody can intimidate me."
"We firmly believe in the natural equality of man; we believe the people are independent. Sovereign, if you please. As…"
"I believe that the love of freedom and the hatred of oppression under-girds and vitalizes the whole republican moveme…"
"If the Bible sanctions slavery at all, it is the enslavement of white men. No one pretends that the servants spoken o…"
"Now, what about this negro equality of which we hear so much, in and out of Congress? It is claimed by the Democrats …"
"Now, if there is anyone dissatisfied with the fact, that there is a whole race of human beings, with the rights of hu…"
"No human being, black or white, bond or free, native or foreign, infidel or Christian, ever came to my door, and aske…"
"I will never degrade my manhood, and stifle the sympathies of human nature. It is an insult to claim it. I wish I had…"
"Is it desired to call attention to this fact? Proclaim it upon the house-tops! Write it upon every leaf that trembles…"
"The principle of enslaving human beings because they are inferior, is this. If a man is a cripple, trip him up. If he…"