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There is no subject so interesting and important to the real lovers of their country, as that of slavery, because there is none which involves the happiness, prosperity and glory of our country in so great a degree—none attended with so many difficulties in remedying. It is admitted by all parties, slave-holders or not, that slavery is the greatest curse our country is afflicted with—it is a foul stain upon our national escutcheon—A canker which is corroding the moral and political vitals of our country. There is but one voice on this subject, and that is the voice of condemnation, as an enormous, and an alarming evil.

—Daniel Raymond, The Missouri Question

It has been made a question among the learned, whether most good or evil has resulted to mankind, from the discovery of America. That the munificent gift of a new world, should have given rise to such a question, is of itself a melancholy proof of human depravity.

Although there may be no serious difficulty in deciding this question, yet, when we consider what oceans of blood have been shed—how many human beings have been butchered—how many nations of brave, high-minded men have been exterminated; and when we add to this the mass of human suffering which has been already caused by negro slavery, the philanthropist is almost ready to drop the tear of regret, and exclaim, alas, that America was ever discovered!

—Daniel Raymond, Thoughts on Political Economy