Senator Henry Clay after being warned of the ramifications of supporting slavery on economic grounds.

Henry Clay defending his plan for the Compromise of 1850.

A slogan of the Know-Nothing Party

Secret sign of recognition of Know-Nothings...read as: 'Eye nose O' or 'I know nothing.'

Alternate name of the Know-Nothing Party.

Alternate name of the Know-Nothing Party.

Stephen Collins Foster.

1854; Chief Seattle, leader of the Suquamish and Duwamish Indians, warning that the white man will never be alone.

Senator William Henry Seward opposing the Compromise of 1850.

1850; Words uttered on Senator John C. Calhoun's deathbed.

1850; Daniel Webster in support of a third compromise at the last meeting of the Triumvirate of him, Clay, and Calhoun

1851; Though often credited to Horace Greeley, this phrase was actually coined by John Soulé, in the Terre Haute Express.

1851; William Lloyd Garrison denouncing the new Fugitive Slave Law.

1851; Sojourner Truth, replying to the contention that women could not have as many rights as man, because Christ was a man.

1852; Frederick Douglas

Words from speech by Henry Clay, inscribed on his grave.

1852; Wendell Phillips, before the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society; he continued, '...power is ever stealing from the many to the few. The manna of popular liberty must be gathered each day or it is rotten.'

1855; Abolitionist and feminist Lucy Stone, at a national woman's right convention in Cincinnati.

1856; Massachusetts Sen. Charles Sumner in his 'Crimes against Kansas' speech attacking South Carolina Sen. Andrew P. Butler; prompting Butler's nephew, Rep. Preston Brooks to attack Sumner with a cane in the Senate chambers.