"As much as I value an union of all the states, I would not admit the southern states into the union, unless they agreed to the discontinuance of this disgraceful trade, because it would bring weakness and not strength to the union"

George Mason's quote speaks to the value of a combined union of all the states, however also to the requirement for the southern states to accept the discontinuance of the slave trade in order for them to be confessed into the union. Mason believes that allowing the slave trade to continue would bring weak point, not strength, to the union. He is suggesting that the union needs to be based upon concepts of equality and justice, and that the servant trade is a disgraceful practice that must not be endured. Mason's quote is a tip of the value of standing up for what is right, even if it suggests compromising the capacity of a combined union. It is a call to action for all people to withstand oppression and to make sure that the union is based upon concepts of equality and justice.