The effect on the minds of the owners is to persuade them that there is no wrong in it. The slaveholder does not like to be considered a mean fellow, for holding that species of property, and hence he has to struggle within himself and sets about arguing himself into the belief that Slavery is right. The property influences his mind. Whether the owners of this species of property do really see it as it is, it is not for me to say, but if they do, they see it as it is through 2,000,000,000 of dollars, and that is a pretty thick coating. Certain it is, that they do not see it as we see it.
Financial interests can alter perspectives on morality.
If one has a vested interest in evil, it is entirely possible to support evil with great intensity, conviction and sincerity. It is no longer a question of liberal and conservative, though you could apply the terms if you insist. Lincoln was a radical, not a liberal. He was overthrowing the laws and traditions of his time, and was quite willing to use force on a massive scale to achieve this end. There must be another word.