" 
 ***Abolitionism is a major issue and has to be covered. The Berringer book has the best summary of the debate and cites most of the major arguments; it should be read by anyone who wants to edit the material. ""Hate speech"" is modern phrasing (back then they just called it hatred). We use 2006 language to describe 1860. Abolitionists did indeed spend most of their energy on shaming the South. The ""small number"" = 3,000-10,000 people. The goal it to be as NPOV as possible about a highly controversial group, and to cover them in a paragraph or so.  "