But who is to blame that [Lewis]... was so instructed, so
demoralized, so educated to crime? Is it his father and
mother?... Is it the society of Florida?... Is it the laws
of Florida?... Is it the Constitution?... [No, none of
these are to blame.] Who, then, is responsible that slavery
was allowed to train assassins? I answer, it is we; we, the
American people, we who have cherished slavery, have
compromised with it, have for a hundred years s extended
it, have pandered to it, and have at last, thanks be to God,
destroyed it.
Background: This passage is an excerpt from William
E. Doster's defense of Lewis Powell.
According to the passage, who is Doster blaming for
Powell's involvement in the assassination of Lincoln?
O John Wilkes Booth
Powell's mother and father
Americans who supported slavery
the people of Florida