White abolitionist, Wendell Phillips, in his speech spoken near the beginning of the civil war, expresses his appreciation towards Toussaint-Louverture, but also explains the importance of allowing African Americans to willingly join their army. Phillips’s purpose is to show that utilizing African Americans willingly, and not forcefully, would be useful. He expresses an appreciative tone because he know other countries and states are listening, so he wants to be respectful yet grateful for his opportunity to be heard. Phillips begins his speech with historical comparisons. He states that, “If I stood here tonight to tell the story of Napoleon, I should take it from the lips of a Frenchmen.” Phillips compares Louverture to Napoleon which