Lovejoy also helped to organize the Liberty Party, the Free Soil Party, the Free Democratic Party, and the Republican Party, blending religion with pragmatism in a new way, different from that of the Eastern abolitionists. He was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives in 1854 and supported Lincoln in his bid for U.S. senator. In the summer of 1856 when Lovejoy was nominated for Congress, Lincoln was at first upset, but within a month realized Lovejoy's political strength and supported him indirectly. In Congress, Lovejoy served as a bridge between the Radical Republicans and Lincoln. Lovejoy said of Lincoln, "If he does not drive as fast as I would, he is on the same road, and it is a question of time." Lincoln said of Lovejoy, "It would scarcely wrong any other to say, he was my most generous friend." His Brother's Blood is the first comprehensive collection of Lovejoy's sermons, campaign speeches, open letters, congressional exchanges, and addresses. It offers a colorful and important perspective on the turmoil leading up to the Civil War and the excitement in Congress that produced universal emancipation.
| Foreword | xi | |
| Preface | xiii | |
| Introduction | xix | |
| Editorial Method | xxvii | |
| Chronology | xxix | |
| Part 1 | Member of the American Anti-Slavery Society, 1838-42 | |
| Introduction: Sinners, Saints, and God-fearing Folk | 1 | |
| 1. | Open Letter to the Citizens of Alton, Illinois, 1838 | 4 |
| 2. | Open Letter from the Rock River Congregational Association of Illinois to the Reformed Church of Scotland, July 16, 1841 | 15 |
| 3. | Sermon on the Supremacy of the Divine Law, January 1842 | 19 |
| 4. | Open Pastoral Letter to the Rock River Congregational Association, March 26, 1842 | 25 |
| 5. | Sermon on Religion and Politics, July 21, 1842 | 33 |
| Part 2 | Member of the Liberty Party, 1842-48 | |
| Introduction: Evangelicals, Republicans, and Political Organizers | 45 | |
| 6. | Address to the Liberty Party of Illinois, May 27, 1842 | 48 |
| 7. | Open Letter Entitled "No Sin to Steal," July 26, 1842 | 55 |
| 8. | Reports on Speeches at the National Liberty Party Convention in Buffalo, New York, August 30-31, 1843 | 58 |
| 9. | Open Letter upon Returning from the Liberty Party Convention in Buffalo, New York, September 8, 1843 | 61 |
| 10. | Sermon Entitled "Christ Died for All, without Regard to Person, Age, Rank or Color," July 1844 | 63 |
| 11. | Report on Speeches at the Northwestern Convention of the Liberty Party in Chicago, June 1846 | 65 |
| 12. | Two Letters and a Report While Canvassing in Massachusetts for the Liberty Party, Fall 1846 | 70 |
| 13. | Report on Two Speeches at the Last National Liberty Party Convention, Buffalo, New York, October 20, 1847 | 77 |
| Part 3 | Member of the Free Soil and Free Democratic Parties, 1848-54 | |
| Introduction: Perfectionists, Opportunists, and Religious Change Agents | 79 | |
| 14. | Open Letter in Response to Political Questions in the Aurora Guardian, July 14 and 15, 1848 | 82 |
| 15. | Open Letter upon Returning from the Free Soil Convention in Buffalo, New York, August 22, 1848 | 86 |
| 16. | Sermon on the Signs of the Coming Reign of the Messiah, January 1850 | 88 |
| 17. | Report on the Free Democratic State Convention, October 25-26, 1853 | 93 |
| Part 4 | Leader in Forming the Republican Party, 1854-56 | |
| Introduction: Douglas, Lincoln, and Fusion | 97 | |
| 18. | Report on Remarks at the State Republican Convention, October 4-5, 1854 | 100 |
| 19. | Report on a Speech in the Illinois State Legislature on "Colored People" Having the Right to Testify in Court, January 11, 1855 | 102 |
| 20. | Speech and Reporter's Comments on Three Antislavery Resolutions Given in the Illinois State Legislature, February 6 and March 5, 1855 | 105 |
| 21. | Opening Prayer at the First National Meeting of the Republican Party, February 22, 1856 | 121 |
| 22. | Report on a Speech at the First National Meeting of the Republican Party, February 22, 1856 | 123 |
| 23. | Reports on the "Lost Speech" at the Bloomington, Illinois, Anti-Nebraska State Nominating Convention, May 29-31, 1856 | 126 |
| 24. | Reports on a Speech after the Bolter's Convention in Bloomington, Illinois, July 16, 1856 | 129 |
| 25. | Report on a Campaign Speech for Congress at Neponset, Illinois, October 26, 1856 | 135 |
| Part 5 | Minority Gadfly Member of the 35th Congress, 1857-59 | |
| Introduction: Ruffians, Abusers of Power, and "Fanatics" | 137 | |
| 26. | First Speech in Congress, on Deception in the Treasury Note Bill, December 21, 1857 | 140 |
| 27. | Speech Entitled "Human Beings, Not Property," in Response to the Supreme Court Decision on the Dred and Harriet Scott Case, February 17, 1858 | 142 |
| 28. | Remarks on Contract Corruption during the Debate on the Deficiency Bill, April 2 and 7, 1858 | 154 |
| 29. | Remarks on the Decoration of the Agriculture Committee Room, May 19, 1858 | 156 |
| 30. | Acceptance Speech on Receiving Unanimous Renomination at the Joliet, Illinois, Convention, June 30, 1858 | 157 |
| 31. | National Sabbath Speech at Bryant's Grove, Princeton, Illinois, July 22, 1858 | 161 |
| 32. | Report on a Speech after the First Lincoln-Douglas Debate at Ottawa, Illinois, August 21, 1858 | 162 |
| 33. | Report on a Speech on the Fugitive Slave Law after the Lincoln-Douglas Debate at Freeport, Illinois, August 27, 1858 | 164 |
| 34. | Speech on the Fanaticism of the Democratic Party, February 21, 1859 | 166 |
| 35. | Speech at the Mount Vernon Association, Princeton, Illinois, May 25, 1859 | 180 |
| Part 6 | Partisan Republican Member of the 36th Congress, 1860-61 | |
| Introduction: Voters, Compromisers, and Promise Keepers | 183 | |
| 36. | Speech Championing the Homestead Bill, March 26, 1860 | 186 |
| 37. | Debate on Slavery, Conducted under Hostile Conditions in Congress, April 5, 1860 | 191 |
| 38. | Reports on and Concluding Remarks of a Campaign Speech Near Alton, Illinois, July 20, 1860 | 211 |
| 39. | Report on a Campaign Speech at Greenup, Illinois, August 16, 1860 | 215 |
| 40. | Report on a Campaign Speech at Freeport, Illinois, September 12, 1860 | 216 |
| 41. | Campaign Speech at the Chicago Wigwam, October 15, 1860 | 225 |
| 42. | Resolution on Obedience to the Constitution and the Defense of National Property, December 17, 1860 | 247 |
| 43. | Speech and Brief Debate on Making No Compromises with Slavery, January 23, 1861 | 250 |
| 44. | Brief Remarks on Compromises with Slavery, January 28, 1861 | 262 |
| 45. | Report on a Speech at the War Meeting in Princeton, Illinois, April 25, 1861 | 263 |
| Part 7 | A Floor Leader of the Triumphant 37th Congress, 1861-63 | |
| Introduction: Unionists, Moderates, and Emancipationists | 267 | |
| 46. | Resolutions Opposing the Return of Fugitive Slaves to Their Masters, July 8 and 9, 1861 | 270 |
| 47. | Report on a Speech about the Use of War Powers to Free the Slaves with the Help of Black Troops, Late November 1861 | 271 |
| 48. | Resolutions on Expanding the Confiscation Act to Include Slaves of All Citizens in Rebellion, December 5 and 20, 1861 | 278 |
| 49. | Resolution Granting Diplomatic Status to "Hayti" and Liberia, December 11, 1861 | 281 |
| 50. | Speech and Debate on the Conduct of the War, January 6, 1862 | 282 |
| 51. | Remarks on the Surrender of Traitors to the British Government, January 14, 1862 | 294 |
| 52. | Remarks on a Bill to Establish a Department of Agriculture, February 17, 1862 | 298 |
| 53. | Remarks on Taxing Slaveholders per Slave, March 25, 1862 | 299 |
| 54. | Response to Charges That Antislavery Men Are As Responsible for the War As the Rebels, March 25, 1862 | 301 |
| 55. | Remarks on a Bill to Abolish Slavery in the District of Columbia, April 11, 1862 | 303 |
| 56. | Remarks on the Pacific Railroad Bill, April 17, 1862 | 305 |
| 57. | Speech and Brief Debate on the Second Confiscation Act, April 24, 1862 | 307 |
| 58. | Resolutions on Prohibiting Slavery in the Territories, May 1, 9, 12, and June 17, 1862 | 324 |
| 59. | Speech at Cooper Institute, New York City, with an Introduction by William Cullen Bryant, June 12, 1862 | 329 |
| 60. | Speech at a War Meeting in Chicago, Rallying Troops and Encouraging the Use of Black Troops, August 2, 1862 | 349 |
| 61. | Report on a Speech at a War Meeting in Princeton, Illinois, on the Agony and Necessity of This Conflict, August 7, 1862 | 351 |
| 62. | Report on Remarks on the Emancipation Proclamation at the Springfield, Illinois, Convention, September 25, 1862 | 353 |
| 63. | Reports on Speeches Promoting the Administration on the Campaign Trail, Fall 1862 | 355 |
| 64. | Reports on and Speech at Princeton, Illinois, on Victory after a Bitter Campaign, November 14 and 19, 1862 | 357 |
| 65. | Remarks on Reconstruction Policy Contrary to Congressman Stevens, January 9, 1863 | 366 |
| 66. | Speech and Brief Debate on the Negro Regiment Bill, January 29, 1863 | 370 |
| 67. | Open Letter to the Springfield Journal Affirming Lincoln for President, August 31, 1863 | 379 |
| 68. | Report on a Speech in Princeton, Illinois, on the Results of Off-year Elections, October 22, 1863 | 381 |
| 69. | Speech at the North Western Fair of the U.S. Sanitary Commission, November 5, 1863 | 385 |
| 70. | Open Letter Read at the American Anti-Slavery Society Meeting in Philadelphia, November 22, 1863 | 391 |
| 71. | Last Public Prayer at Hampshire Colony Congregational Church, November 26, 1863 | 393 |
| Part 8 | Esteemed Colleague of the 38th Congress, 1863-64 | |
| Introduction: Freedman, Avengers, and Allies | 397 | |
| 72. | Report on Last Speech in Princeton, Illinois, on Reconstruction Policy, November 26, 1863 | 400 |
| 73. | Remarks Concerning a Bill Making Slaveholding a Crime, December 14, 1863 | 402 |
| 74. | Report on a Speech at the New City Hall in Portland, Maine, Predicting Lincoln's Re-election, December 26, 1863 | 404 |
| 75. | Letter to William Lloyd Garrison, February 22, 1864 | 407 |
| 76. | Last Public Words in the Form of a Letter to Governor John Andrew of Massachusetts, February 22, 1864 | 409 |
| 77. | Eulogy by Abraham Lincoln, June 9, 1864 | 411 |
| Bibliography | 413 | |
| Index | 423 |
Overview