I have spoken of votes. Living in a community where political power is lodged with the people, and each citizen is an elector, the vote is an important expression of opinion. The vote is the cutting edge. It is well to have correct opinions, but the vote must follow. The vote is the seed planted; without it there can be no sure fruit. The winds of heaven, in their beneficence, may scatter the seed in the furrow; but it is not from such accidents that our fields wave with the golden harvest. He is a foolish husbandman who neglects to sow his seed; and he is an unwise citizen, who, desiring the spread of good principles, neglects to deposit his vote for the candidate who is the representative of those principles. [60] The Reason of Church Government, Book II., Introduction: Prose Works, ed. Symmons, Vol. I. p. 117. Admonished by experience of timidity, irresolution, and weakness in our public men, particularly at Washington, amidst the temptations of ambition and power, the friends of Freedom cannot lightly bestow their confidence. They can put trust only in men of tried character and inflexible will. Three things at least they must require: the first is _backbone_; the second is _backbone_; and the third is _backbone_. [_Loud cheers._] My language is homely; I hardly pardon myself for using it; but it expresses an idea which must not be forgotten. When I see a person of upright character and pure soul yielding to a temporizing policy, I cannot but say, _He wants backbone_. When I see a person talking loudly against Slavery in private, but hesitating in public, and failing in the time of trial, I say, _He wants backbone_. When I see a person who coöperated with Antislavery men, and then deserted them, I say, _He wants backbone_. ["_Hear! hear!_"] When I see a person leaning upon the action of a political party, and never venturing to think for himself, I say, _He wants backbone_. When I see a person careful always to be on the side of the majority, and unwilling to appear in a minority, or, if need be, to stand alone, I say, _He wants backbone_. [_Applause._] Wanting this, they all want that courage, constancy, firmness, which are essential to the support of PRINCIPLE. Let no such man be trusted. [_Renewed applause._]