They wanted new states to be free from slavery, so they would not have to compete with slave labor.

VOA: special.2009.04.30

I believe anyone would be perfectly right to interfere with you, so far as to free those you wickedly hold in slavery.

VOA: special.2009.07.02

And it voted that Oregon should be free territory, with slavery illegal.

VOA: special.2009.03.05

Iranian attendance at the events, Ros-Lehtinen said, could be equated to fraternizing with the oppressors of people in Iran who yearn to live free.

VOA: standard.2009.06.23