Abolitionism was a political movement that sought to abolish the practice of slavery and the worldwide slave trade.

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• Abolitionism proposes to destroy the right and extinguish the principle of self-grovernment for which our forefathers waged a seven years' bloody war, and upon which our whole system of free government is founded.
  • Stephen Douglas

• The Abolitionst…must see that he has neither the right or power of operating except by moral means and suasion.
  • Robert E. Lee

• The delegates of the annual conference are decidedly opposed to modern Abolitionism, and wholly disclaim any right, wish, or intention to interfere in the civil and political relation between master and slave as it exists in the slave states of the union.
  • Methodist Episcopal Church: General Conference, Cincinnati, May, 1836 After they had driven out most of the Abolitionists. Not long after the Church split over slavery.

"In returning I read a very different book, published by an honest Quaker, on that execrable sum of all villanies, commonly called the Slave-trade." John Wesley founder of the Methodist Church.http://www.brycchancarey.com/abolition/wesley.htm