第12章

Weareheretostandfirmlyforaprinciple——tostandfirmlyforaright。Weknowthatgreatpoliticalandmoralwrongsaredone，andoutragescommitted，andwedenouncethosewrongsandoutrages，althoughwecannot，atpresent，domuchmore。Butwedesiretoreachoutbeyondthosepersonaloutragesandestablisharulethatwillapplytoall，andsopreventanyfutureoutrages。

Wehaveseento—daythateveryshadeofpopularopinionisrepresentedhere，withFreedom，orratherFreeSoil，asthebasis。Wehavecometogetherasinsomesortrepresentativesofpopularopinionagainsttheextensionofslaveryintoterritorynowfreeinfactaswellasbylaw，andthepledgedwordofthestatesmenofthenationwhoarenownomore。Wecome——wearehereassembledtogether——toprotestaswellaswecanagainstagreatwrong，andtotakemeasures，aswellaswenowcan，tomakethatwrongright；toplacethenation，asfarasitmaybepossiblenow，asitwasbeforetherepealoftheMissouriCompromise；andtheplainwaytodothisistorestoretheCompromise，andtodemandanddeterminethatKansasshallbefree！[Immenseapplause。]Whileweaffirm，andreaffirm，ifnecessary，ourdevotiontotheprinciplesoftheDeclarationofIndependence，letourpracticalworkherebelimitedtotheabove。Weknowthatthereisnotaperfectagreementofsentimenthereonthepublicquestionswhichmightberightfullyconsideredinthisconvention，andthattheindignationwhichweallmustfeelcannotbehelped；butallofusmustgiveupsomethingforthegoodofthecause。Thereisonedesirewhichisuppermostinthemind，onewishcommontousall，towhichnodissentwillbemade；andIcounselyouearnestlytoburyallresentment，tosinkallpersonalfeeling，makeallthingsworktoacommonpurposeinwhichweareunitedandagreedabout，andwhichallpresentwillagreeisabsolutelynecessary——whichmustbedonebyanyrightfulmodeiftherebesuch：

SlaverymustbekeptoutofKansas！[Applause。]Thetest——thepinch——isrightthere。IfweloseKansastofreedom，anexamplewillbesetwhichwillprovefataltofreedomintheend。We，therefore，inthelanguageoftheBible，must"laytheaxetotherootofthetree。"Temporizingwillnotdolonger；nowisthetimefordecision——forfirm，persistent，resoluteaction。

[Applause。]

TheNebraskaBill，orratherNebraskalaw，isnotoneofwholesomelegislation，butwasandisanactoflegislativeusurpation，whoseresult，ifnotindeedintention，istomakeslaverynational；andunlessheadedoffinsomeeffectiveway，weareinafairwaytoseethislandofboastedfreedomconvertedintoalandofslaveryinfact。[Sensation。]Justopenyourtwoeyes，andseeifthisbenotso。Ineeddonomorethanstate，tocommanduniversalapproval，thatalmosttheentireNorth，aswellasalargefollowingintheborderStates，isradicallyopposedtotheplantingofslaveryinfreeterritory。ProbablyinapopularvotethroughoutthenationninetenthsofthevotersinthefreeStates，andatleastone—halfintheborderStates，iftheycouldexpresstheirsentimentsfreely，wouldvoteNOonsuchanissue；anditissafetosaythattwothirdsofthevotesoftheentirenationwouldbeopposedtoit。Andyet，inspiteofthisoverbalancingofsentimentinthisfreecountry，weareinafairwaytoseeKansaspresentitselfforadmissionasaslaveState。Indeed，itisafelony，bythelocallawofKansas，todenythatslaveryexiststhereevennow。Byeveryprincipleoflaw，anegroinKansasisfree；yetthebogusLegislaturemakesitaninfamouscrimetotellhimthatheisfree！

StatutesofKansas，1555，chapter151，Sec。12：Ifanyfreeperson，byspeakingorbywriting，assertormaintainthatpersonshavenottherighttoholdslavesinthisTerritory，orshallintroduceintothisTerritory，print，publish，write，circulate……anybook，paper，magazine，pamphlet，orcircularcontaininganydenialoftherightofpersonstoholdslavesinthisTerritorysuchpersonshallbedeemedguiltyoffelony，andpunishedbyimprisonmentathardlaborforatermofnotlessthantwoyears。

Sec。13。Nopersonwhoisconscientiouslyopposedtoholdingslaves，orwhodoesnotadmittherighttoholdslavesinthisTerritory，shallsitasajuroronthetrialofanyprosecutionforanyviolationofanySectionsofthisAct。

Thepartylashandthefearofridiculewilloverawejusticeandliberty；foritisasingularfact，butnonethelessafact，andwellknownbythemostcommonexperience，thatmenwilldothingsundertheterrorofthepartylashthattheywouldnotonanyaccountorforanyconsiderationdootherwise；whilemenwhowillmarchuptothemouthofaloadedcannonwithoutshrinkingwillrunfromtheterriblenameof"Abolitionist，"evenwhenpronouncedbyaworthlesscreaturewhomthey，withgoodreason，despise。Forinstance——topressthispointalittle——JudgeDouglasintroducedhisNebraskaBillinJanuary；andwehadanextrasessionofourLegislatureinthesucceedingFebruary，inwhichwereseventy—fiveDemocrats；andatapartycaucus，fullyattended，therewerejustthreevotes，outofthewholeseventy—

five，forthemeasure。ButinafewdaysorderscameonfromWashington，commandingthemtoapprovethemeasure；thepartylashwasapplied，anditwasbroughtupagainincaucus，andpassedbyalargemajority。Themasseswereagainstit，butpartynecessitycarriedit；anditwaspassedthroughthelowerhouseofCongressagainstthewillofthepeople，forthesamereason。Hereiswherethegreatestdangerliesthat，whileweprofesstobeagovernmentoflawandreason，lawwillgivewaytoviolenceondemandofthisawfulandcrushingpower。LikethegreatJuggernaut——Ithinkthatisthename——thegreatidol，itcrusheseverythingthatcomesinitsway，andmakesa[？]——or，asIreadonce，inablackletterlawbook，"aslaveisahumanbeingwhoislegallynotapersonbutathing。"Andifthesafeguardstolibertyarebrokendown，asisnowattempted，whentheyhavemadethingsofallthefreenegroes，howlong，thinkyou，beforetheywillbegintomakethingsofpoorwhitemen？[Applause。]Benotdeceived。Revolutionsdonotgobackward。ThefounderoftheDemocraticpartydeclaredthatallmenwerecreatedequal。

Hissuccessorintheleadershiphaswrittentheword"white"

beforemen，makingitread"allwhitemenarecreatedequal。"

Pray，willormaynottheKnow—Nothings，iftheyshouldgetinpower，addtheword"Protestant，"makingitread"allProtestantwhitemen……？"

Meanwhilethehaplessnegroisthefruitfulsubjectofreprisalsinotherquarters。JohnPettit，whomTomBentonpaidhisrespectsto，youwillrecollect，callstheimmortalDeclaration"aself—evidentlie"；whileatthebirthplaceoffreedom——intheshadowofBunkerHillandofthe"cradleofliberty，"atthehomeoftheAdamsesandWarrenandOtis——Choate，fromoursideofthehouse，darestofritterawaythebirthdaypromiseoflibertybyproclaimingtheDeclarationtobe"astringofglitteringgeneralities"；andtheSouthernWhigs，workinghandinhandwithproslaveryDemocrats，aremakingChoate’stheoriespractical。

ThomasJefferson，aslaveholder，mindfulofthemoralelementinslavery，solemnlydeclaredthathetrembledforhiscountrywhenherememberedthatGodisjust；whileJudgeDouglas，withaninsignificantwaveofthehand，"don’tcarewhetherslaveryisvoteduporvoteddown。"Now，ifslaveryisright，orevennegative，hehasarighttotreatitinthistriflingmanner。

Butifitisamoralandpoliticalwrong，asallChristendomconsidersittobe，howcanheanswertoGodforthisattempttospreadandfortifyit？[Applause。]

Butnoman，andJudgeDouglasnomorethananyother，canmaintainanegative，ormerelyneutral，positiononthisquestion；and，accordingly，heavowsthattheUnionwasmadebywhitemenandforwhitemenandtheirdescendants。Asmatteroffact，thefirstbranchofthepropositionishistoricallytrue；

thegovernmentwasmadebywhitemen，andtheywereandarethesuperiorrace。ThisIadmit。Butthecorner—stoneofthegovernment，sotospeak，wasthedeclarationthat"allmenarecreatedequal，"andallentitledto"life，liberty，andthepursuitofhappiness。"[Applause。]

Andnotonlyso，buttheframersoftheConstitutionwereparticulartokeepoutofthatinstrumenttheword"slave，"thereasonbeingthatslaverywouldultimatelycometoanend，andtheydidnotwishtohaveanyreminderthatinthisfreecountryhumanbeingswereeverprostitutedtoslavery。[Applause。]Norisitanyargumentthatwearesuperiorandthenegroinferior——

thathehasbutonetalentwhilewehaveten。Letthenegropossessthelittlehehasinindependence；ifhehasbutonetalent，heshouldbepermittedtokeepthelittlehehas。

[Applause：]Butslaverywillendurenotestofreasonorlogic；

andyetitsadvocates，likeDouglas，useasortofbastardlogic，ornoisyassumptionitmightbetterbetermed，liketheabove，inordertopreparethemindforthegradual，butnonethelesscertain，encroachmentsoftheMolochofslaveryuponthefairdomainoffreedom。Buthowevermuchyoumayargueuponit，orsmotheritinsoftphrase，slaverycanonlybemaintainedbyforce——byviolence。TherepealoftheMissouriCompromisewasbyviolence。Itwasaviolationofbothlawandthesacredobligationsofhonor，tooverthrowandtrampleunderfootasolemncompromise，obtainedbythefearfullosstofreedomofoneofthefairestofourWesterndomains。Congressviolatedthewillandconfidenceofitsconstituentsinvotingforthebill；

andwhilepublicsentiment，asshownbytheelectionsof1854，demandedtherestorationofthiscompromise，Congressviolateditstrustbyrefusingsimplybecauseithadtheforceofnumberstoholdontoit。Andmurderousviolenceisbeingusednow，inordertoforceslaveryontoKansas；foritcannotbedoneinanyotherway。[Sensation。]

Thenecessaryresultwastoestablishtheruleofviolence——

force，insteadoftheruleoflawandreason；toperpetuateandspreadslavery，andintimetomakeitgeneral。Weseeitatbothendsoftheline。InWashington，ontheveryspotwheretheoutragewasstarted，thefearlessSumnerisbeatentoinsensibility，andisnowslowlydying；whilesenatorswhoclaimtobegentlemenandChristiansstoodby，countenancingtheact，andevenapplaudingitafterwardintheirplacesintheSenate。

EvenDouglas，ourman，sawitallandwaswithinhelpingdistance，yetletthemurderousblowsfallunopposed。Then，attheotherendoftheline，attheverytimeSumnerwasbeingmurdered，Lawrencewasbeingdestroyedforthecrimeoffreedom。

ItwasthemostprominentstrongholdoflibertyinKansas，andmustgivewaytotheall—dominatingpowerofslavery。Onlytwodaysago，JudgeTrumbullfounditnecessarytoproposeabillintheSenatetopreventageneralcivilwarandtorestorepeaceinKansas。

Weliveinthemidstofalarms；anxietybecloudsthefuture；weexpectsomenewdisasterwitheachnewspaperweread。Areweinahealthfulpoliticalstate？Arenotthetendenciesplain？Donotthesignsofthetimespointplainlythewayinwhichwearegoing？[Sensation。]

IntheearlydaysoftheConstitutionslaverywasrecognized，bySouthandNorthalike，asanevil，andthedivisionofsentimentaboutitwasnotcontrolledbygeographicallinesorconsiderationsofclimate，butbymoralandphilanthropicviews。

PetitionsfortheabolitionofslaverywerepresentedtotheveryfirstCongressbyVirginiaandMassachusettsalike。Toshowtheharmonywhichprevailed，Iwillstatethatafugitiveslavelawwaspassedin1793，withnodissentingvoiceintheSenate，andbutsevendissentingvotesintheHouse。Itwas，however，awiselaw，moderate，and，undertheConstitution，ajustone。Twenty—

fiveyearslater，amorestringentlawwasproposedanddefeated；

andthirty—fiveyearsafterthat，thepresentlaw，draftedbyMasonofVirginia，waspassedbyNorthernvotes。Iamnot，justnow，complainingofthislaw，butIamtryingtoshowhowthecurrentsets；fortheproposedlawof1817wasfarlessoffensivethanthepresentone。In1774theContinentalCongresspledgeditself，withoutadissentingvote，towhollydiscontinuetheslavetrade，andtoneitherpurchasenorimportanyslave；andlessthanthreemonthsbeforethepassageoftheDeclarationofIndependence，thesameCongresswhichadoptedthatdeclarationunanimouslyresolved"thatnoslavebeimportedintoanyofthethirteenUnitedColonies。"[Greatapplause。]

OntheseconddayofJuly，1776，thedraftofaDeclarationofIndependencewasreportedtoCongressbythecommittee，andinittheslavetradewascharacterizedas"anexecrablecommerce，"as"apiraticalwarfare，"asthe"opprobriumofinfidelpowers，"andas"acruelwaragainsthumannature。[Applause。]AllagreedonthisexceptSouthCarolinaandGeorgia，andinordertopreserveharmony，andfromthenecessityofthecase，theseexpressionswereomitted。Indeed，abolitionsocietiesexistedasfarsouthasVirginia；anditisawell—knownfactthatWashington，Jefferson，Madison，Lee，Henry，Mason，andPendletonwerequalifiedabolitionists，andmuchmoreradicalonthatsubjectthanweoftheWhigandDemocraticpartiesclaimtobeto—day。

OnMarch1，1784，VirginiacededtotheconfederationallitslandslyingnorthwestoftheOhioRiver。Jefferson，ChaseofMaryland，andHowellofRhodeIsland，asacommitteeonthatandterritorythereaftertobeceded，reportedthatnoslaveryshouldexistaftertheyear1800。Hadthisreportbeenadopted，notonlytheNorthwest，butKentucky，Tennessee，Alabama，andMississippialsowouldhavebeenfree；butitrequiredtheassentofnineStatestoratifyit。NorthCarolinawasdivided，andthusitsvotewaslost；andDelaware，Georgia，andNewJerseyrefusedtovote。Inpointoffact，asitwas，itwasassentedtobysixStates。ThreeyearslateronasquarevotetoexcludeslaveryfromtheNorthwest，onlyonevote，andthatfromNewYork，wasagainstit。Andyet，thirty—sevenyearslater，fivethousandcitizensofIllinois，outofavotingmassoflessthantwelvethousand，deliberately，afteralongandheatedcontest，votedtointroduceslaveryinIllinois；and，to—day，alargepartyinthefreeStateofIllinoisarewillingtovotetofastentheshacklesofslaveryonthefairdomainofKansas，notwithstandingitreceivedthedowryoffreedomlongbeforeitsbirthasapoliticalcommunity。Irepeat，therefore，thequestion：Isitnotplaininwhatdirectionwearetending？

[Sensation。]Inthecolonialtime，Mason，Pendleton，andJeffersonwereashostiletoslaveryinVirginiaasOtis，Ames，andtheAdamseswereinMassachusetts；andVirginiamadeasearnestanefforttogetridofitasoldMassachusettsdid。Butcircumstanceswereagainstthemandtheyfailed；butnotthatthegoodwillofitsleadingmenwaslacking。YetwithinlessthanfiftyyearsVirginiachangeditstune，andmadenegro—breedingforthecottonandsugarStatesoneofitsleadingindustries。

[Laughterandapplause。]

IntheConstitutionalConvention，GeorgeMasonofVirginiamadeamoreviolentabolitionspeechthanmyfriendsLovejoyorCoddingwoulddesiretomakehereto—day——aspeechwhichcouldnotbesafelyrepeatedanywhereonSouthernsoilinthisenlightenedyear。But，whilethereweresomedifferencesofopiniononthissubjecteventhen，discussionwasallowed；butasyouseebytheKansasslavecode，which，asyouknow，istheMissourislavecode，merelyferriedacrosstheriver，itisafelonytoevenexpressanopinionhostiletothatfoulblotinthelandofWashingtonandtheDeclarationofIndependence。[Sensation。]

InKentucky——myState——in1849，onatestvote，themightyinfluenceofHenryClayandmanyothergoodthentherecouldnotgetasymptomofexpressioninfavorofgradualemancipationonaplainissueofmarchingtowardthelightofcivilizationwithOhioandIllinois；buttheStateofBooneandHardinandHenryClay，withaniggerundereacharm，tooktheblacktrailtowardthedeadlyswampsofbarbarism。Isthere——cantherebe——anydoubtaboutthisthing？Andisthereanydoubtthatwemustalllayasideourprejudicesandmarch，shouldertoshoulder，inthegreatarmyofFreedom？[Applause。]

EveryFourthofJulyouryoungoratorsallproclaimthistobe"thelandofthefreeandthehomeofthebrave！"Well，now，whenyouoratorsgetthatoffnextyear，and，maybe，thisveryyear，howwouldyoulikesomeoldgrizzledfarmertogetupinthegroveanddenyit？[Laughter。]Howwouldyoulikethat？ButsupposeKansascomesinasaslaveState，andallthe"borderruffians"havebarbecuesaboutit，andfree—StatemencometrailingbacktothedishonoredNorth，likewhippeddogswiththeirtailsbetweentheirlegs，itis——ain’tit？——evidentthatthisisnomorethe"landofthefree"；andifweletitgoso，wewon’tdaretosay"homeofthebrave"outloud。[Sensationandconfusion。]

Cananymandoubtthat，eveninspiteofthepeople’swill，slaverywilltriumphthroughviolence，unlessthatwillbemademanifestandenforced？EvenGovernorReederclaimedattheoutsetthatthecontestinKansaswastobefair，buthegothiseyesopenatlast；andIbelievethat，asaresultofthismoralandphysicalviolence，KansaswillsoonapplyforadmissionasaslaveState。Andyetwecan’tmistakethatthepeopledon’twantitso，andthatitisalandwhichisfreebothbynaturalandpoliticallaw。Nolaw，isfreelaw！SuchistheunderstandingofallChristendom。IntheSomersetcase，decidednearlyacenturyago，thegreatLordMansfieldheldthatslaverywasofsuchanaturethatitmusttakeitsriseinpositive(asdistinguishedfromnatural)law；andthatinnocountryoragecoulditbetracedbacktoanyothersource。WillsomeonepleasetellmewhereisthepositivelawthatestablishesslaveryinKansas？[A

voice："Theboguslaws。"]Aye，theboguslaws！And，onthesameprinciple，agangofMissourihorse—thievescouldcomeintoIllinoisanddeclarehorse—stealingtobelegal[Laughter]，anditwouldbejustaslegalasslaveryisinKansas。Butbyexpressstatute，inthelandofWashingtonandJefferson，wemaysoonbebroughtfacetofacewiththediscreditablefactofshowingtotheworldbyouractsthatwepreferslaverytofreedom——darknesstolight！[Sensation。]

Itis，Ibelieve，aprincipleinlawthatwhenonepartytoacontractviolatesitsogrosslyastochieflydestroytheobjectforwhichitismade，theotherpartymayrescindit。IwillaskBrowningifthatain’tgoodlaw。[Voices：Yes！"]Well，nowifthatberight，Igoforrescindingthewhole，entireMissouriCompromiseandthusturningMissouriintoafreeState；andI

shouldliketoknowthedifference——shouldlikeforanyonetopointoutthedifference——betweenourmakingafreeStateofMissouriandtheirmakingaslaveStateofKansas。[Greatapplause。]Thereain’tonebitofdifference，exceptthatourwaywouldbeagreatmercytohumanity。ButIhaveneversaid，andtheWhigpartyhasneversaid，andthosewhoopposetheNebraskaBilldonotasabodysay，thattheyhaveanyintentionofinterferingwithslaveryintheslaveStates。Ourplatformsaysjustthecontrary。WeallowslaverytoexistintheslaveStates，notbecauseslaveryisrightorgood，butfromthenecessitiesofourUnion。Wegrantafugitiveslavelawbecauseitisso"nominatedinthebond"；becauseourfatherssostipu1ated——hadto——andweareboundtocarryoutthisagreement。

Buttheydidnotagreetointroduceslaveryinregionswhereitdidnotpreviouslyexist。Onthecontrary，theysaidbytheirexampleandteachingsthattheydidnotdeemitexpedient——didn’tconsideritright——todoso；anditiswiseandrighttodojustastheydidaboutit。[Voices："Good！"]Andthatitwhatwepropose——nottointerferewithslaverywhereitexists(wehavenevertriedtodoit)，andtogivethemareasonableandefficientfugitiveslavelaw。[Avoice："No！"]I

sayYES！[Applause。]Itwaspartofthebargain，andI’mforlivinguptoit；butIgonofurther；I’mnotboundtodomore，andIwon’tagreeanyfurther。[Greatapplause。]

We，hereinIllinois，shouldfeelespeciallyproudoftheprovisionoftheMissouriCompromiseexcludingslaveryfromwhatisnowKansas；foranIllinoisman，JesseB。Thomas，wasitsfather。HenryClay，whoiscreditedwiththeauthorshipoftheCompromiseingeneralterms，didnotevenvoteforthatprovision，butonlyadvocatedtheultimateadmissionbyasecondcompromise；andThomaswas，beyondallcontroversy，therealauthorofthe"slaveryrestriction"branchoftheCompromise。ToshowthegenerosityoftheNorthernmemberstowardtheSouthernside：onatestvotetoexcludeslaveryfromMissouri，ninetyvotednottoexclude，andeighty—seventoexclude，everyvotefromtheslaveStatesbeingrangedwiththeformerandfourteenvotesfromthefreeStates，ofwhomsevenwerefromNewEnglandalone；whileonavotetoexcludeslaveryfromwhatisnowKansas，thevotewasonehundredandthirty—fourfor，toforty—

twoagainst。Thescheme，asawhole，was，ofcourse，aSoutherntriumph。Itisidletocontendotherwise，asisnowbeingdonebytheNebraskites；itwassoshownbythevotesandquiteasemphaticallybytheexpressionsofrepresentativemen。Mr。

LowndesofSouthCarolinawasneverknowntocommitapoliticalmistake；hiswasthegreatjudgmentofthatsection；andhedeclaredthatthismeasure"wouldrestoretranquillitytothecountry——aresultdemandedbyeveryconsiderationofdiscretion，ofmoderation，ofwisdom，andofvirtue。"WhenthemeasurecamebeforePresidentMonroeforhisapproval，heputtoeachmemberofhiscabinetthisquestion："HasCongresstheconstitutionalpowertoprohibitslaveryinaTerritory？"AndJohnC。CalhounandWilliamH。CrawfordfromtheSouth，equallywithJohnQuincyAdams，BenjaminRush，andSmithThompsonfromtheNorth，alikeanswered，"Yes！"withoutqualificationorequivocation；andthismeasure，ofsogreatconsequencetotheSouth，waspassed；andMissouriwas，bymeansofit，finallyenabledtoknockatthedooroftheRepublicforanopenpassagetoitsbroodofslaves。

And，inspiteofthis，Freedom’sshareisabouttobetakenbyviolence——bytheforceofmisrepresentativevotes，notcalledforbythepopularwill。WhatnamecanI，incommondecency，givetothiswickedtransaction？[Sensation。]

Buteventhenthecontestwasnotover；forwhentheMissouriconstitutioncamebeforeCongressforitsapproval，itforbadeanyfreenegroormulattofromenteringtheState。Inshort，ourIllinois"black1aws"werehiddenawayintheirconstitution[Laughter]，andthecontroversywasthusrevived。ThenitwasthatMr。Clay’stalentsshoneoutconspicuously，andthecontroversythatshooktheuniontoitsfoundationwasfinallysettledtothesatisfactionoftheconservativepartiesonbothsidesoftheline，thoughnottotheextremistsoneither，andMissouriwasadmittedbythesmallmajorityofsixinthelowerHouse。Howgreatamajority，doyouthink，wouldhavebeengivenhadKansasalsobeensecuredforslavery？[Avoice："Amajoritytheotherway。"]"Amajoritytheotherway，"isanswered。DoyouthinkitwouldhavebeensafeforaNorthernmantohaveconfrontedhisconstituentsafterhavingvotedtoconsignbothMissouriandKansastohopelessslavery？AndyetthismanDouglas，whomisrepresentshisconstituentsandwhohasexertedhishighesttalentsinthatdirection，willbecarriedintriumphthroughtheStateandhailedwithhonorwhileapplaudingthatact。[Threegroansfor"Dug！"]Andthisshowswhitherwearetending。Thisthingofslaveryismorepowerfulthanitssupporters——eventhanthehighprieststhatministeratitsaltar。Itdebauchesevenourgreatestmen。Itgathersstrength，likearollingsnowball，byitsowninfamy。Monstrouscrimesarecommittedinitsnamebypersonscollectivelywhichtheywouldnotdaretocommitasindividuals。Itsaggressionsandencroachmentsalmostsurpassbelief。Inadespotism，onemightnotwondertoseeslaveryadvancesteadilyandremorselesslyintonewdominions；butisitnotwonderful，isitnotevenalarming，toseeitssteadyadvanceinalanddedicatedtothepropositionthat"allmenarecreatedequal"？[Sensation。]

Ityieldsnothingitself；itkeepsallithas，andgetsallitcanbesides。ItreallycamedangerouslynearsecuringIllinoisin1824；itdidgetMissouriin1821。ThefirstpropositionwastoadmitwhatisnowArkansasandMissouriasoneslaveState。

ButtheterritorywasdividedandArkansascamein，withoutseriousquestion，asaslaveState；andafterwardsMissouri，not，asasortofequality，free，butalsoasaslaveState。ThenwehadFloridaandTexas；andnowKansasisabouttobeforcedintothedismalprocession。[Sensation。]Andsoitiswhereveryoulook。Wehavenotforgotten——itisbutsixyearssince——howdangerouslynearCaliforniacametobeingaslaveState。TexasisaslaveState，andfourotherslaveStatesmaybecarvedfromitsvastdomain。Andyet，intheyear1829，slaverywasabolishedthroughoutthatvastregionbyaroyaldecreeofthethensovereignofMexico。WillyoupleasetellmebywhatrightslaveryexistsinTexasto—day？Bythesamerightas，andnohigherorgreaterthan，slaveryisseekingdominioninKansas：

bypoliticalforce——peaceful，ifthatwillsuffice；bythetorch(asinKansas)andthebludgeon(asintheSenatechamber)，ifrequired。Andsohistoryrepeatsitself；andevenasslaveryhaskeptitscoursebycraft，intimidation，andviolenceinthepast，soitwillpersist，inmyjudgment，untilmetanddominatedbythewillofapeoplebentonitsrestriction。

Wehave，thisveryafternoon，heardbitterdenunciationsofBrooksinWashington，andTitus，Stringfellow，Atchison，Jones，andShannoninKansas——thebattle—groundofslavery。Icertainlyamnotgoingtoadvocateorshieldthem；buttheyandtheiractsarebutthenecessaryoutcomeoftheNebraskalaw。Weshouldreserveourhighestcensurefortheauthorsofthemischief，andnotforthecatspawswhichtheyuse。IbelieveitwasShakespearewhosaid，"Wheretheoffencelies，therelettheaxefall"；and，inmyopinion，thismanDouglasandtheNorthernmeninCongresswhoadvocate"Nebraska"aremoreguiltythanathousandJonesesandStringfellows，withalltheirmurderouspractices，canbe。[Applause。]

Wehavemadeagoodbeginninghereto—day。AsourMethodistfriendswouldsay，"Ifeelitisgoodtobehere。"Whileextremistsmayfindsomefaultwiththemoderationofourplatform，theyshouldrecollectthat"thebattleisnotalwaystothestrong，northeracetotheswift。"Ingraveemergencies，moderationisgenerallysaferthanradicalism；andasthisstruggleislikelytobelongandearnest，wemustnot，byouraction，repelanywhoareinsympathywithusinthemain，butratherwinallthatwecantoourstandard。Wemustnotbelittlenoroverlookthefactsofourcondition——thatwearenewandcomparativelyweak，whileourenemiesareentrenchedandrelativelystrong。Theyhavetheadministrationandthepoliticalpower；and，rightorwrong，atpresenttheyhavethenumbers。Ourfriendswhourgeanappealtoarmswithsomuchforceandeloquenceshouldrecollectthatthegovernmentisarrayedagainstus，andthatthenumbersarenowarrayedagainstusaswell；or，tostateitnearertothetruth，theyarenotyetexpresslyandaffirmativelyforus；andweshouldrepelfriendsratherthangainthembyanythingsavoringofrevolutionarymethods。Asitnowstands，wemustappealtothesobersenseandpatriotismofthepeople。Wewillmakeconvertsdaybyday；wewillgrowstrongbycalmnessandmoderation；wewillgrowstrongbytheviolenceandinjusticeofouradversaries。And，unlesstruthbeamockeryandjusticeahollowlie，wewillbeinthemajorityafterawhile，andthentherevolutionwhichwewillaccomplishwillbenonethelessradicalfrombeingtheresultofpacificmeasures。Thebattleoffreedomistobefoughtoutonprinciple。Slaveryisaviolationoftheeternalright。Wehavetemporizedwithitfromthenecessitiesofourcondition；butassureasGodreignsandschoolchildrenread，THATBLACKFOULLIE

CANNEVERBECONSECRATEDINTOGOD’SHALLOWEDTRUTH！[Immenseapplauselastingsometime。]

Oneofourgreatestdifficultiesis，thatmenwhoknowthatslaveryisadetestablecrimeandruinoustothenationarecompelled，byourpeculiarconditionandothercircumstances，toadvocateitconcretely，thoughdamningitintheraw。HenryClaywasabrilliantexampleofthistendency；othersofourpureststatesmenarecompelledtodoso；andthusslaverysecuresactualsupportfromthosewhodetestitatheart。YetHenryClayperfectedandforcedthroughthecompromisewhichsecuredtoslaveryagreatStateaswellasapoliticaladvantage。Notthathehatedslaveryless，butthathelovedthewholeUnionmore。

Aslongasslaveryprofitedbyhisgreatcompromise，thehostsofproslaverycouldnotsufficientlycoverhimwithpraise；butnowthatthiscompromisestandsintheirway—

"……theynevermentionhim，Hisnameisneverheard：

TheirlipsarenowforbidtospeakThatoncefamiliarword。"

Theyhaveslaughteredoneofhismostcherishedmeasures，andhisghostwouldarisetorebukethem。[Greatapplause。]

Now，letusharmonize，myfriends，andappealtothemoderationandpatriotismofthepeople：tothesobersecondthought；totheawakenedpublicconscience。TherepealofthesacredMissouriCompromisehasinstalledtheweaponsofviolence：thebludgeon，theincendiarytorch，thedeath—dealingrifle，thebristlingcannon——theweaponsofkingcraft，oftheinquisition，ofignorance，ofbarbarism，ofoppression。WeseeitsfruitsinthedyingbedoftheheroicSumner；intheruinsofthe"FreeState"

hotel；inthesmokingembersoftheHeraldofFreedom；inthefree—StateGovernorofKansaschainedtoastakeonfreedom’ssoillikeahorse—thief，forthecrimeoffreedom。[Applause。]

WeseeitinChristianstatesmen，andChristiannewspapers，andChristianpulpitsapplaudingthecowardlyactofalowbully，WHO

CRAWLEDUPONHISVICTIMBEHINDHISBACKANDDEALTTHEDEADLY

BLOW。[Sensationandapplause。]Wenoteourpoliticaldemoralizationinthecatch—wordsthatarecomingintosuchcommonuse；ontheonehand，"freedom—shriekers，"andsometimes"freedom—screechers"[Laughter]，and，ontheotherhand，"border—

ruffians，"andthatfullydeserved。Andthesignificanceofcatch—wordscannotpassunheeded，fortheyconstituteasignofthetimes。Everythinginthisworld"jibes"inwitheverythingelse，andallthefruitsofthisNebraskaBillarelikethepoisonedsourcefromwhichtheycome。Iwillnotsaythatwemaynotsoonerorlaterbecompelledtomeetforcebyforce；butthetimehasnotyetcome，and，ifwearetruetoourselves，maynevercome。Donotmistakethattheballotisstrongerthanthebullet。Thereforeletthelegionsofslaveryusebullets；butletuswaitpatientlytillNovemberandfireballotsattheminreturn；andbythatpeacefulpolicyIbelieveweshallultimatelywin。[Applause。]

ItwasbythatpolicythathereinIllinoistheearlyfathersfoughtthegoodfightandgainedthevictory。In1824thefreemenofourState，ledbyGovernorColes(whowasanativeofMarylandandPresidentMadison’sprivatesecretary)，determinedthatthosebeautifulgrovesshouldneverre—echothedirgeofonewhohasnotitletohimself。Bytheirresolutedetermination，thewindsthatsweepacrossourbroadprairiesshallnevercooltheparchedbrow，norshalltheunfetteredstreamsthatbringjoyandgladnesstoourfreesoilwaterthetiredfeet，ofaslave；

butsolongasthoseheavenlybreezesandsparklingstreamsblesstheland，orthegrovesandtheirfragranceormemoryremain，thehumanitytowhichtheyministerSHALLBEFOREVERFREE！[Greatapplause]Palmer，Yates，Williams，Browning，andsomemoreinthisconventioncamefromKentuckytoIllinois(insteadofgoingtoMissouri)，notonlytobettertheirconditions，butalsotogetawayfromslavery。Theyhavesaidsotome，anditisunderstoodamongusKentuckiansthatwedon’tlikeitonebit。

Now，canwe，mindfuloftheblessingsoflibertywhichtheearlymenofIllinoislefttous，refusealikeprivilegetothefreemenwhoseektoplantFreedom’sbanneronourWesternoutposts？

["No！""No！"]ShouldwenotstandbyourneighborswhoseektobettertheirconditionsinKansasandNebraska？["Yes！""Yes！"]

CanweasChristianmen，andstrongandfreeourselves，wieldthesledgeorholdtheironwhichistomanacleanewanalreadyoppressedrace？["No！""No！"]"Woeuntothem，"itiswritten，"thatdecreeunrighteousdecreesandthatwritegrievousnesswhichtheyhaveprescribed。"Canweaffordtosinanymoredeeplyagainsthumanliberty？["No！""No！"]

Onegreattroubleinthematteris，thatslaveryisaninsidiousandcraftypower，andgainsequallybyopenviolenceofthebrutalaswellasbyslymanagementofthepeaceful。EvenaftertheOrdinanceof1787，thesettlersinIndianaandIllinois(itwasallonegovernmentthen)triedtogetCongresstoallowslaverytemporarily，andpetitionstothatendweresentfromKaskaskia，andGeneralHarrison，theGovernor，urgeditfromVincennes，thecapital。Ifthathadsucceeded，good—byetolibertyhere。ButJohnRandolphofVirginiamadeavigorousreportagainstit；andalthoughtheyperseveredsowellastogetthreefavorablereportsforit，yettheUnitedStatesSenate，withtheaidofsomeslaveStates，finallysquelchedifforgood。

[Applause。]Andthatiswhythishallisto—dayatempleforfreemeninsteadofanegrolivery—stable。[Greatapplauseandlaughter。]Onceletslaverygetplantedinalocality，byeversoweakordoubtfulatitle，andineversosmallnumbers，anditisliketheCanadathistleorBermudagrass——youcan’trootitout。

Youyourselfmaydetestslavery；butyourneighborhasfiveorsixslaves，andheisanexcellentneighbor，oryoursonhasmarriedhisdaughter，andtheybegyoutohelpsavetheirproperty，andyouvoteagainstyourinterestsandprincipletoaccommodateaneighbor，hopingthatyourvotewillbeonthelosingside。Andothersdothesame；andinthosewaysslaverygetsasurefoothold。AndwhenthatisdonethewholemightyUnion——theforceofthenation——iscommittedtoitssupport。AndthatveryprocessisworkinginKansasto—day。Andyoumustrecollectthattheslavepropertyisworthabillionofdollars；

whilefree—Statemenmustworkforsentimentalone。Thenthereare"bluelodges"——astheycallthem——everywheredoingtheirsecretanddeadlywork。

Itisaverystrangething，andnotsolvablebyanymorallawthatIknowof，thatifamanloseshishorse，thewholecountrywillturnouttohelphangthethief；butifamanbutashadeortwodarkerthanIamishimselfstolen，thesamecrowdwillhangonewhoaidsinrestoringhimtoliberty。Sucharetheinconsistenciesofslavery，whereahorseismoresacredthanaman；andtheessenceofsquatterorpopularsovereignty——Idon’tcarehowyoucallit——isthatifonemanchoosestomakeaslaveofanother，nothirdmanshallbeallowedtoobject。AndifyoucandothisinfreeKansas，anditisallowedtostand，thenextthingyouwillseeisshiploadsofnegroesfromAfricaatthewharfatCharleston，foronethingisastrulylawfulastheother；andthesearethebastardnotionswehavegottostampout，elsetheywillstampusout。[Sensationandapplause。]

Twoyearsago，atSpringfield，JudgeDouglasavowedthatIllinoiscameintotheUnionasaslaveState，andthatslaverywasweededoutbytheoperationofhisgreat，patent，everlastingprincipleof"popularsovereignty。"[Laughter。]Well，now，thatargumentmustbeanswered，forithasalittlegrainoftruthatthebottom。Idonotmeanthatitistrueinessence，ashewouldhaveusbelieve。ItcouldnotbeessentiallytrueiftheOrdinanceof’87wasvalid。But，inpointoffact，thereweresomedegradedbeingscalledslavesinKaskaskiaandtheotherFrenchsettlementswhenourfirstStateconstitutionwasadopted；

thatisafact，andIdon’tdenyit。Slaveswerebroughthereasearlyas1720，andwerekepthereinspiteoftheOrdinanceof1787againstit。Butslaverydidnotthrivehere。Onthecontrary，undertheinfluenceoftheordinancethenumberdecreasedfifty—onefrom1810to1820；whileundertheinfluenceofsquattersovereignty，rightacrosstheriverinMissouri，theyincreasedseventhousandtwohundredandeleveninthesametime；

andslaveryfinallyfadedoutinIllinois，undertheinfluenceofthelawoffreedom，whileitgrewstrongerandstrongerinMissouri，underthelaworpracticeof"popularsovereignty。"InpointoffacttherewerebutonehundredandseventeenslavesinIllinoisoneyearafteritsadmission，oronetoeveryfourhundredandseventyofitspopulation；or，tostateitinanotherway，ifIllinoiswasaslaveStatein1820，sowereNewYorkandNewJerseymuchgreaterslaveStatesfromhavinghadgreaternumbers，slaveryhavingbeenestablishedthereinveryearlytimes。ButthereisthisvitaldifferencebetweenalltheseStatesandtheJudge’sKansasexperiment：thattheysoughttodisestablishslaverywhichhadbeenalreadyestablished，whiletheJudgeseeks，sofarashecan，todisestablishfreedom，whichhadbeenestablishedtherebytheMissouriCompromise。[Voices：

"Good！"]

TheUnionisunder—goingafearfulstrain；butitisastoutoldship，andhasweatheredmanyahardblow，and"thestarsintheircourses，"aye，aninvisiblePower，greaterthanthepunyeffortsofmen，willfightforus。Butweourselvesmustnotdeclinetheburdenofresponsibility，nortakecounselofunworthypassions。

Whateverdutyurgesustodoortoomitmustbedoneoromitted；

andtherecklessnesswithwhichouradversariesbreakthelaws，orcounseltheirviolation，shouldaffordnoexampleforus。

Therefore，letusreveretheDeclarationofIndependence；letuscontinuetoobeytheConstitutionandthelaws；letuskeepsteptothemusicoftheUnion。Letusdrawacordon，sotospeak，aroundtheslaveStates，andthehatefulinstitution，likeareptilepoisoningitself，willperishbyitsowninfamy。

[Applause。]

Butwecannotbefreemenifthisis，byournationalchoice，tobealandofslavery。Thosewhodenyfreedomtoothersdeserveitnotforthemselves；and，undertheruleofajustGod，cannotlongretainit。[Loudapplause。]

Didyouever，myfriends，seriouslyreflectuponthespeedwithwhichwearetendingdownwards？WithinthememoryofmennowpresenttheleadingstatesmanofVirginiacouldmakegenuine，red—hotabolitionistspeechesinoldVirginia！and，asIhavesaid，nowevenin"freeKansas"itisacrimetodeclarethatitis"freeKansas。"TheverysentimentsthatIandothershavejustutteredwouldentitleus，andeachofus，totheignominyandseclusionofadungeon；andyetIsupposethat，likePaul，wewere"freeborn。"Butifthisthingisallowedtocontinue，itwillbebutonestepfurthertoimpressthesameruleinIllinois。[Sensation。]

Theconclusionofallis，thatwemustrestoretheMissouriCompromise。WemusthighlyresolvethatKansasmustbefree！

[Greatapplause。]WemustreinstatethebirthdaypromiseoftheRepublic；wemustreaffirmtheDeclarationofIndependence；wemustmakegoodinessenceaswellasinformMadison’savowalthat"thewordslaveoughtnottoappearintheConstitution"；

andwemustevengofurther，anddecreethatonlylocallaw，andnotthattime—honoredinstrument，shallshelteraslaveholder。

Wemustmakethisalandoflibertyinfact，asitisinname。

Butinseekingtoattaintheseresults——soindispensableifthelibertywhichisourprideandboastshallendure——wewillbeloyaltotheConstitutionandtothe"flagofourUnion，"andnomatterwhatourgrievance——eventhoughKansasshallcomeinasaslaveState；andnomatterwhattheirs——evenifweshallrestorethecompromise——WEWILLSAYTOTHESOUTHERNDISUNIONISTS，WE

WON’TGOOUTOFTHEUNION，ANDYOUSHAN’T！

[Thiswastheclimax；theaudiencerosetoitsfeetenmasse，applauded，stamped，wavedhandkerchiefs，threwhatsintheair，andranriotforseveralminutes。Thearch—enchanterwhowroughtthistransformationlooked，meanwhile，likethepersonificationofpoliticaljustice。]

Butletus，meanwhile，appealtothesenseandpatriotismofthepeople，andnottotheirprejudices；letusspreadthefloodsofenthusiasmherearousedalloverthesevastprairies，sosuggestiveoffreedom。LetuscommencebyelectingthegallantsoldierGovernor(Colonel)BissellwhostoodforthehonorofourStatealikeontheplainsandamidstthechaparralofMexicoandonthefloorofCongress，whilehedefiedtheSouthernHotspur；

andthatwillhaveagreatermoraleffectthanalltheborderruffianscanaccomplishinalltheirraidsonKansas。Thereisbothapowerandamagicinpopularopinion。Tothatletusnowappeal；andwhile，inallprobability，noresorttoforcewillbeneeded，ourmoderationandforbearancewillstandUSingoodsteadwhen，ifever，WEMUSTMAKEANAPPEALTOBATTLEANDTOTHE

GODOFHOSTS！[Immenseapplauseandarushfortheorator。]

Onecanrealizewiththisabilitytomovepeople’smindsthattheSouthernConspiracywererighttohatethisman。He，betterthananyatthetimewasabletouncovertheirstratagemsandteardowntheirsophismsandcontradictions。

POLITICALCORRESPONDENCE

TOW。C。WHITNEY。

SPRINGFIELD，July9，1856。

DEARWHITNEY：——InowexpecttogotoChicagoonthe15th，andI

probablyshallremainthereorthereaboutsforabouttwoweeks。

ItturnedmeblindwhenIfirstheardSwettwasbeatenandLovejoynominated；but，aftermuchreflection，Ireallybelieveitisbesttoletitstand。This，ofcourse，Iwishtobeconfidential。

Lamondidgetyourdeeds。Iwentwithhimtotheoffice，gotthem，andputtheminhishandsmyself。

Yoursverytruly，A。LINCOLN。

ONOUT—OF—STATECAMPAIGNERS

TOWILLIAMGRIMES。

SPRINGFIELD，ILLINOIS，July12，1856

Your’softhe29thofJunewasdulyreceived。Ididnotansweritbecauseitplaguedme。ThismorningIreceivedanotherfromJuddandPeck，writtenbyconsultationwithyou。NowletmetellyouwhyIamplagued：

1。Icanhardlysparethetime。

2。Iamsuperstitious。IhavescarcelyknownapartyprecedinganelectiontocallinhelpfromtheneighboringStatesbuttheylosttheState。Lastfall，ourfriendshadWade，ofOhio，andothers，inMaine；andtheylosttheState。LastspringouradversarieshadNewHampshirefullofSouthCarolinians，andtheylosttheState。Andso，generally，itseemstostirupmoreenemiesthanfriends。

Havetheenemycalledinanyforeignhelp？IftheyhaveaforeignchampionthereIshouldhavenoobjectiontodriveanailinhistrack。IshallreachChicagoonthenightofthe15th，toattendtoalittlebusinessincourt。ConsiderthethingsIhavesuggested，andwritemeatChicago。EspeciallywritemewhetherBrowningconsentstovisityou。

Yourobedientservant，A。LINCOLN。

REPUBLICANCAMPAIGNSPEECH

FRAGMENTOFSPEECHATGALENA，ILLINOIS，INTHE

FREMONTCAMPAIGN，AUGUST1，1856。

Youfurtherchargeuswithbeingdisunionists。IfyoumeanthatitisouraimtodissolvetheUnion，Iformyselfanswerthatitisuntrue；forthosewhoactwithmeIanswerthatitisuntrue。

Haveyouheardusassertthatasouraim？Doyoureallybelievethatsuchisouraim？Doyoufinditinourplatform，ourspeeches，ourconventions，oranywhere？Ifnot，withdrawthecharge。

Butyoumaysaythat，thoughitisnotouraim，itwillbetheresultifwesucceed，andthatwearethereforedisunionistsinfact。Thisisagravechargeyoumakeagainstus，andwecertainlyhavearighttodemandthatyouspecifyinwhatwaywearetodissolvetheUnion。Howarewetoeffectthis？

TheonlyspecificationofferedisvolunteeredbyMr。FillmoreinhisAlbanyspeech。HischargeisthatifweelectaPresidentandVice—PresidentbothfromthefreeStates，itwilldissolvetheUnion。Thisisopenfolly。TheConstitutionprovidesthatthePresidentandVice—PresidentoftheUnitedStatesshallbeofdifferentStates，butsaysnothingastothelatitudeandlongitudeofthoseStates。In1828AndrewJackson，ofTennessee，andJohnC。

Calhoun，ofSouthCarolina，wereelectedPresidentandVice—

President，bothfromslaveStates；butnoonethoughtofdissolvingtheUnionthenonthataccount。In1840Harrison，ofOhio，andTyler，ofVirginia，wereelected。In1841HarrisondiedandJohnTylersucceededtothePresidency，andWilliamR。

King，ofAlabama，waselectedactingVice—PresidentbytheSenate；butnoonesupposedthattheUnionwasindanger。Infact，attheverytimeMr。Fillmoreutteredthisidlecharge，thestateofthingsintheUnitedStatesdisprovedit。Mr。Pierce，ofNewHampshire，andMr。Bright，ofIndiana，bothfromfreeStates，arePresidentandVice—President，andtheUnionstandsandwillstand。YoudonotpretendthatitoughttodissolvetheUnion，andthefactsshowthatitwon’t；thereforethechargemaybedismissedwithoutfurtherconsideration。

Nootherspecificationismade，andtheonlyonethatcouldbemadeisthattherestorationoftherestrictionof1820，makingtheUnitedStatesterritoryfreeterritory，woulddissolvetheUnion。Gentlemen，itwillrequireadecidedmajoritytopasssuchanact。We，themajority，beingableconstitutionallytodoallthatwepurpose，wouldhavenodesiretodissolvetheUnion。

Doyousaythatsuchrestrictionofslaverywouldbeunconstitutional，andthatsomeoftheStateswouldnotsubmittoitsenforcement？Igrantyouthatanunconstitutionalactisnotalaw；butIdonotaskandwillnottakeyourconstructionoftheConstitution。TheSupremeCourtoftheUnitedStatesisthetribunaltodecidesuchaquestion，andwewillsubmittoitsdecisions；andifyoudoalso，therewillbeanendofthematter。Willyou？Ifnot，whoarethedisunionists——youorwe？

We，themajority，wouldnotstrivetodissolvetheUnion；andifanyattemptismade，itmustbebyyou，whosoloudlystigmatizeusasdisunionists。ButtheUnion，inanyevent，willnotbedissolved。Wedon’twanttodissolveit，andifyouattemptitwewon’tletyou。Withthepurseandsword，thearmyandnavyandtreasury，inourhandsandatourcommand，youcouldnotdoit。Thisgovernmentwouldbeveryweakindeedifamajoritywithadisciplinedarmyandnavyandawell—filledtreasurycouldnotpreserveitselfwhenattackedbyanunarmed，undisciplined，unorganizedminority。AllthistalkaboutthedissolutionoftheUnionishumbug，nothingbutfolly。WedonotwanttodissolvetheUnion；youshallnot。

ONTHEDANGEROFTHIRD—PARTIES

TOJOHNBENNETT。

SPRINGFIELD，AUG。4，1856

DEARSIR：——IunderstandyouareaFillmoreman。If，asbetweenFremontandBuchanan，youreallyprefertheelectionofBuchanan，thenburnthiswithoutreadingalinefurther。ButifyouwouldliketodefeatBuchananandhisgang，allowmeawordwithyou：

DoesanyonepretendthatFillmorecancarrythevoteofthisState？Ihavenotheardasinglemanpretendso。EveryvotetakenfromFremontandgiventoFillmoreisjustsomuchinfavorofBuchanan。TheBuchananmenseethis；andhencetheirgreatanxietyinfavoroftheFillmoremovement。Theyknowwheretheshoepinches。TheynowgreatlypreferhavingamanofyourcharactergoforFillmorethanforBuchananbecausetheyexpectseveraltogowithyou，whowouldgoforFremontifyouweretogodirectlyforBuchanan。

IthinkInowunderstandtherelativestrengthofthethreepartiesinthisStateaswellasanyonemandoes，andmyopinionisthatto—dayBuchananhasalone85，000，Fremont78，000，andFillmore21，000。

ThisgivesB。theStateby7000andleaveshimintheminorityofthewhole14，000。

FremontandFillmoremenbeingunitedonBissell，astheyalreadyare，hecannotbebeaten。Thisisnotalongletter，butitcontainsthewholestory。

Yoursasever，A。LINCOLN。

TOJESSEK。DUBOIS。

SPRINGFIELD，Aug。19，1856。

DEARDUBOIS：YourletteronthesamesheetwithMr。Miller’sisjustreceived。Ihavebeenabsentfourdays。Idonotknowwhenyourcourtsits。

TrumbullhaswrittenthecommitteeheretohaveasetofappointmentsmadeforhimcommencinghereinSpringfield，onthe11thofSept。，andtoextendthroughoutthesouthhalfoftheState。WhenhegoestoLawrenceville，ashewill，Iwillstraineverynervetobewithyouandhim。MorethanthatIcannotpromisenow。

Yoursastrulyasever，A。LINCOLN。

TOHARRISONMALTBY。

[Confidential]

SPRINGFIELD，September8，1856。

DEARSIR：——IunderstandyouareaFillmoreman。LetmeprovetoyouthateveryvotewithheldfromFremontandgiventoFillmoreinthisStateactuallylessensFillmore’schanceofbeingPresident。SupposeBuchanangetsalltheslaveStatesandPennsylvania，andanyotheroneStatebesides；thenheiselected，nomatterwhogetsalltherest。ButsupposeFillmoregetsthetwoslaveStatesofMarylandandKentucky；thenBuchananisnotelected；FillmoregoesintotheHouseofRepresentatives，andmaybemadePresidentbyacompromise。Butsuppose，again，Fillmore’sfriendsthrowawayafewthousandvotesonhiminIndianaandIllinois；itwillinevitablygivetheseStatestoBuchanan，whichwillmorethancompensatehimforthelossofMarylandandKentucky，willelecthim，andleaveFillmorenochanceintheHouseofRepresentativesoroutofit。

Thisisasplainasaddinguptheweightofthreesmallhogs。AsMr。FillmorehasnopossiblechancetocarryIllinoisforhimself，itisplainlytohisinteresttoletFremonttakeit，andthuskeepitoutofthehandsofBuchanan。Benotdeceived。

Buchananisthehardhorsetobeatinthisrace。LethimhaveIllinois，andnothingcanbeathim；andhewillgetIllinoisifmenpersistinthrowingawayvotesuponMr。Fillmore。DoessomeonepersuadeyouthatMr。FillmorecancarryIllinois？Nonsense！

ThereareoverseventynewspapersinIllinoisopposingBuchanan，onlythreeorfourofwhichsupportMr。Fillmore，alltherestgoingforFremont。Arenotthesenewspapersafairindexoftheproportionofthevotes？Ifnot，tellmewhy。

Again，ofthesethreeorfourFillmorenewspapers，two，atleast，aresupportedinpartbytheBuchananmen，asIunderstand。Donottheyknowwheretheshoepinches？TheyknowtheFillmoremovementhelpsthem，andthereforetheyhelpit。Dothinkthesethingsover，andthenactaccordingtoyourjudgment。

Yoursverytruly，A。LINCOLN

TODr。R。BOAL。

Sept。14，1856。

Dr。R。BOAL，Lacon，Ill。

MYDEARSIR：——Yoursofthe8thinvitingmetobewith[you]atLacononthe30thisreceived。IfeelthatIoweyouandourfriendsofMarshallagooddeal，andIwillcomeifIcan；andifIdonotgetthere，itwillbebecauseIshallthinkmyeffortsarenowneededfarthersouth。

PresentmyregardstoMrs。Boal，andbelieve[me]，asever，Yourfriend，A。LINCOLN。

TOHENRYO’CONNER，MUSCATINE，IOWA。

SPRINGFIELD，Sept。14，1856。

DEARSIR：——Yours，invitingmetoattendamass—meetingonthe23dinst。，isreceived。ItwouldbeverypleasanttostrikehandswiththeFremontersofIowa，whohaveledthevansosplendidly，inthisgrandchargewhichwehopeandbelievewillendinamostgloriousvictory。Allthanks，allhonortoIowa！ButIowaisoutofalldanger，anditisnotimeforus，whenthebattlestillrages，topayholidayvisitstoIowa。IamsureyouwillexcusemeforremaininginIllinois，wheremuchhardworkisstilltobedone。

Yoursverytruly，A。LINCOLN。

AFTERTHEDEMOCRATICVICTORYOFBUCHANAN

FRAGMENTOFSPEECHATAREPUBLICANBANQUET

INCHICAGO，DECEMBER10，1856。

WehaveanotherannualPresidentialmessage。Likearejectedlovermakingmerryattheweddingofhisrival，thePresidentfelicitateshimselfhugelyoverthelatePresidentialelection。

Heconsiderstheresultasignaltriumphofgoodprinciplesandgoodmen，andaverypointedrebukeofbadones。Hesaysthepeopledidit。Heforgetsthatthe"people，"ashecomplacentlycallsonlythosewhovotedforBuchanan，areinaminorityofthewholepeoplebyaboutfourhundredthousandvotes——onefulltenthofallthevotes。Rememberingthis，hemightperceivethatthe"rebuke"maynotbequiteasdurableasheseemstothink——thatthemajoritymaynotchoosetoremainpermanentlyrebukedbythatminority。

ThePresidentthinksthegreatbodyofusFremonters，beingardentlyattachedtoliberty，intheabstract，weredupedbyafewwickedanddesigningmen。Thereisaslightdifferenceofopiniononthis。Wethinkhe，beingardentlyattachedtothehopeofasecondterm，intheconcrete，wasdupedbymenwhohadlibertyeveryway。Heisthecat’s—paw。Bymuchdraggingofchestnutsfromthefireforotherstoeat，hisclawsareburntofftothegristle，andheisthrownasideasunfitforfurtheruse。AsthefoolsaidofKingLear，whenhisdaughtershadturnedhimoutofdoors，"He’sashelledpeascod"["That’sasheal’dpeascod")。

SofarasthePresidentchargesus"withadesiretochangethedomesticinstitutionsofexistingStates，"andof"doingeverythinginourpowertodeprivetheConstitutionandthelawsofmoralauthority，"forthewholepartyonbelief，andformyselfonknowledge，Ipronouncethechargeanunmixedandunmitigatedfalsehood。

Ourgovernmentrestsinpublicopinion。Whoevercanchangepublicopinioncanchangethegovernmentpracticallyjustsomuch。Publicopinion，onanysubject，alwayshasa"centralidea，"fromwhichallitsminorthoughtsradiate。That"centralidea"inourpoliticalpublicopinionatthebeginningwas，anduntilrecentlyhascontinuedtobe，"theequalityofmen。"Andalthoughithasalwayssubmittedpatientlytowhateverofinequalitythereseemedtobeasmatterofactualnecessity，itsconstantworkinghasbeenasteadyprogresstowardthepracticalequalityofallmen。ThelatePresidentialelectionwasastrugglebyonepartytodiscardthatcentralideaandtosubstituteforittheoppositeideathatslaveryisrightintheabstract，theworkingsofwhichasacentralideamaybetheperpetuityofhumanslaveryanditsextensiontoallcountriesandcolors。LessthanayearagotheRichmondEnquirer，anavowedadvocateofslavery，regardlessofcolor，inordertofavorhisviews，inventedthephrase"Stateequality，"andnowthePresident，inhismessage，adoptstheEnquirer’scatch—

phrase，tellingusthepeople"haveassertedtheconstitutionalequalityofeachandalloftheStatesoftheUnionasStates。"

ThePresidentflattershimselfthatthenewcentralideaiscompletelyinaugurated；andsoindeeditis，sofarasthemerefactofaPresidentialelectioncaninaugurateit。Tousitislefttoknowthatthemajorityofthepeoplehavenotyetdeclaredforit，andtohopethattheyneverwill。

AllofuswhodidnotvoteforMr。Buchanan，takentogether，areamajorityoffourhundredthousand。ButinthelatecontestweweredividedbetweenFremontandFillmore。Canwenotcometogetherforthefuture？Leteveryonewhoreallybelievesandisresolvedthatfreesocietyisnotandshallnotbeafailure，andwhocanconscientiouslydeclarethatinthelastcontesthehasdoneonlywhathethoughtbest——leteverysuchonehavecharitytobelievethateveryotheronecansayasmuch。Thusletbygonesbebygones；letpastdifferencesasnothingbe；andwithsteadyeyeontherealissueletusreinauguratethegoodold"centralidea"oftherepublic。Wecandoit。Thehumanheartiswithus；Godiswithus。Weshallagainbeable，nottodeclarethat"allStatesasStatesareequal，"noryetthat"allcitizensascitizensareequal，"buttorenewthebroader，betterdeclaration，includingboththeseandmuchmore，that"allmenarecreatedequal。

TODr。R。BOAL。

SPRINGFIELD，Dec。25，1856。

DEARSIR：—WhenIwasatChicagotwoweeksagoIsawMr。Arnold，andfromaremarkofhisIinferredhewasthinkingofthespeakership，thoughIthinkhewasnotanxiousaboutit。Heseemedmostanxiousforharmonygenerally，andparticularlythatthecontestedseatsfromPeoriaandMcDonoughmightberightlydetermined。SinceIcamehomeIhadatalkwithCullom，oneofourAmericanrepresentativeshere，andhesaysheisforyouforSpeakerandalsothathethinksalltheAmericanswillbeforyou，unlessitbeGorin，ofMacon，ofwhomhecannotspeak。IfyouwouldliketobeSpeakergorightupandseeArnold。Heistalented，apractiseddebater，and，Ithink，woulddohimselfmorecreditonthefloorthanintheSpeaker’sseat。Goandseehim；andifyouthinkfit，showhimthisletter。

Yourfriendasever，A。LINCOLN。

1857

TOJOHNE。ROSETTE。

Private。

SPRINGFIELD，ILL。，February10，1857。

DEARSIR：——YournoteaboutthelittleparagraphintheRepublicanwasreceivedyesterday，sincewhichtimeIhavebeentoounwelltonoticeit。Ihadnotsupposedyouwroteorapprovedit。Thewholeoriginatedinmistake。YouknowbytheconversationwithmethatIthoughttheestablishmentofthepaperunfortunate，butIalwaysexpectedtothrownoobstacleinitsway，andtopatronizeittotheextentoftakingandpayingforonecopy。

Whenthepaperwasbroughttomyhouse，mywifesaidtome，"Nowareyougoingtotakeanotherworthlesslittlepaper？"，Isaidtoherevasively，"Ihavenotdirectedthepapertobeleft。"Fromthis，inmyabsence，shesentthemessagetothecarrier。Thisisthewholestory。

Yourstruly，A。LINCOLN。

RESPONSETOADOUGLASSPEECH

SPEECHINSPRINGFIELD，ILLINOIS，JUNE26，1857。

FELLOW—CITIZENS：——Iamhereto—nightpartlybytheinvitationofsomeofyou，andpartlybymyowninclination。TwoweeksagoJudgeDouglasspokehereontheseveralsubjectsofKansas，theDredScottdecision，andUtah。Ilistenedtothespeechatthetime，andhavethereportofitsince。ItwasintendedtocontrovertopinionswhichIthinkjust，andtoassail(politically，notpersonally)thosemenwho，incommonwithme，entertainthoseopinions。ForthisreasonIwishedthen，andstillwish，tomakesomeanswertoit，whichInowtaketheopportunityofdoing。

IbeginwithUtah。Ifitprovetobetrue，asisprobable，thatthepeopleofUtahareinopenrebelliontotheUnitedStates，thenJudgeDouglasisinfavorofrepealingtheirterritorialorganization，andattachingthemtotheadjoiningStatesforjudicialpurposes。Isay，too，iftheyareinrebellion，theyoughttobesomehowcoercedtoobedience；andIamnotnowpreparedtoadmitordenythattheJudge’smodeofcoercingthemisnotasgoodasany。TheRepublicanscanfallinwithitwithouttakingbackanythingtheyhaveeversaid。Tobesure，itwouldbeaconsiderablebackingdownbyJudgeDouglasfromhismuch—vaunteddoctrineofself—governmentfortheTerritories；butthisisonlyadditionalproofofwhatwasveryplainfromthebeginning，thatthatdoctrinewasameredeceitfulpretenseforthebenefitofslavery。ThosewhocouldnotseethatmuchintheNebraskaactitself，whichforcedgovernors，andsecretaries，andjudgesonthepeopleoftheTerritorieswithouttheirchoiceorconsent，couldnotbemadetosee，thoughoneshouldrisefromthedead。

ButinallthisitisveryplaintheJudgeevadestheonlyquestiontheRepublicanshaveeverpressedupontheDemocracyinregardtoUtah。ThatquestiontheJudgewellknewtobethis：

"IfthepeopleofUtahpeacefullyformaStateconstitutiontoleratingpolygamy，willtheDemocracyadmitthemintotheUnion？"ThereisnothingintheUnitedStatesConstitutionorlawagainstpolygamy；andwhyisitnotapartoftheJudge’s"sacredrightofself—government"forthepeopletohaveit，orrathertokeepit，iftheychoose？Thesequestions，sofarasIknow，theJudgeneveranswers。ItmightinvolvetheDemocracytoanswerthemeitherway，andtheygounanswered。

AstoKansas。ThesubstanceoftheJudge’sspeechonKansasisanefforttoputthefree—Statemeninthewrongfornotvotingattheelectionofdelegatestotheconstitutionalconvention。

Hesays：

"Thereiseveryreasontohopeandbelievethatthelawwillbefairlyinterpretedandimpartiallyexecuted，soastoinsuretoeverybonafideinhabitantthefreeandquietexerciseoftheelectivefranchise。"

ItappearsextraordinarythatJudgeDouglasshouldmakesuchastatement。Heknowsthat，bythelaw，noonecanvotewhohasnotbeenregistered；andheknowsthatthefree—Statemenplacetheirrefusaltovoteonthegroundthatbutfewofthemhavebeenregistered。Itispossiblethatthisisnottrue，butJudgeDouglasknowsitisassertedtobetrueinletters，newspapers，andpublicspeeches，andbornebyeverymailandblownbyeverybreezetotheeyesandearsoftheworld。Heknowsitisboldlydeclaredthatthepeopleofmanywholecounties，andmanywholeneighborhoodsinothers，areleftunregistered；yethedoesnotventuretocontradictthedeclaration，ortopointouthowtheycanvotewithoutbeingregistered；buthejustslipsalong，notseemingtoknowthereisanysuchquestionoffact，andcomplacentlydeclares：

"Thereiseveryreasontohopeandbelievethatthelawwillbefairlyandimpartiallyexecuted，soastoinsuretoeverybonafideinhabitantthefreeandquietexerciseoftheelectivefranchise。"

Ireadilyagreethatifallhadachancetovotetheyoughttohavevoted。If，onthecontrary，astheyallege，andJudgeDouglasventuresnottoparticularlycontradict，fewonlyofthefree—Statemenhadachancetovote，theywereperfectlyrightinstayingfromthepollsinabody。

Bytheway，sincetheJudgespoke，theKansaselectionhascomeoff。TheJudgeexpressedhisconfidencethatalltheDemocratsinKansaswoulddotheirduty—including"free—StateDemocrats，"

ofcourse。Thereturnsreceivedhereasyetareveryincomplete；

butsofarastheygo，theyindicatethatonlyaboutonesixthoftheregisteredvotershavereallyvoted；andthis，too，whennotmore，perhaps，thanonehalfoftherightfulvotershavebeenregistered，thusshowingthethingtohavebeenaltogetherthemostexquisitefarceeverenacted。Iamwatchingwithconsiderableinteresttoascertainwhatfigure"thefree—StateDemocrats"cutintheconcern。Ofcoursetheyvoted，——allDemocratsdotheirduty，——andofcoursetheydidnotvoteforslave—Statecandidates。Wesoonshallknowhowmanydelegatestheyelected，howmanycandidatestheyhadpledgedtoafreeState，andhowmanyvoteswerecastforthem。

AllowmetobarelywhispermysuspicionthattherewerenosuchthingsinKansasas"free—StateDemocrats"——thattheywerealtogethermythical，goodonlytofigureinnewspapersandspeechesinthefreeStates。Ifthereshouldprovetobeonereallivingfree—StateDemocratinKansas，Isuggestthatitmightbewelltocatchhim，andstuffandpreservehisskinasaninterestingspecimenofthatsoon—to—beextinctvarietyofthegenusDemocrat。

AndnowastotheDredScottdecision。Thatdecisiondeclarestwopropositions——first，thatanegrocannotsueintheUnitedStatescourts；andsecondly，thatCongresscannotprohibitslaveryintheTerritories。Itwasmadebyadividedcourtdividingdifferentlyonthedifferentpoints。JudgeDouglasdoesnotdiscussthemeritsofthedecision，andinthatrespectI

shallfollowhisexample，believingIcouldnomoreimproveonMcLeanandCurtisthanhecouldonTaney。

Hedenouncesallwhoquestionthecorrectnessofthatdecision，asofferingviolentresistancetoit。Butwhoresistsit？Whohas，inspiteofthedecision，declaredDredScottfree，andresistedtheauthorityofhismasteroverhim？

Judicialdecisionshavetwouses——first，toabsolutelydeterminethecasedecided，andsecondly，toindicatetothepublichowothersimilarcaseswillbedecidedwhentheyarise。Forthelatteruse，theyarecalled"precedents"and"authorities。"

WebelieveasmuchasJudgeDouglas(perhapsmore)inobedienceto，andrespectfor，thejudicialdepartmentofgovernment。Wethinkitsdecisionsonconstitutionalquestions，whenfullysettled，shouldcontrolnotonlytheparticularcasesdecided，butthegeneralpolicyofthecountry，subjecttobedisturbedonlybyamendmentsoftheConstitutionasprovidedinthatinstrumentitself。Morethanthiswouldberevolution。ButwethinktheDredScottdecisioniserroneous。Weknowthecourtthatmadeithasoftenoverruleditsowndecisions，andweshalldowhatwecantohaveittooverrulethis。Weoffernoresistancetoit。

Judicialdecisionsareofgreaterorlessauthorityasprecedentsaccordingtocircumstances。Thatthisshouldbesoaccordsbothwithcommonsenseandthecustomaryunderstandingofthelegalprofession。

Ifthisimportantdecisionhadbeenmadebytheunanimousconcurrenceofthejudges，andwithoutanyapparentpartisanbias，andinaccordancewithlegalpublicexpectationandwiththesteadypracticeofthedepartmentsthroughoutourhistory，andhadbeeninnopartbasedonassumedhistoricalfactswhicharenotreallytrue；or，ifwantinginsomeofthese，ithadbeenbeforethecourtmorethanonce，andhadtherebeenaffirmedandreaffirmedthroughacourseofyears，itthenmightbe，perhapswouldbe，factious，nay，evenrevolutionary，nottoacquiesceinitasaprecedent。

Butwhen，asistrue，wefinditwantinginalltheseclaimstothepublicconfidence，itisnotresistance，itisnotfactious，itisnotevendisrespectful，totreatitasnothavingyetquiteestablishedasettleddoctrineforthecountry。ButJudgeDouglasconsidersthisviewawful。Hearhim：

"ThecourtsarethetribunalsprescribedbytheConstitutionandcreatedbytheauthorityofthepeopletodetermine，expound，andenforcethelaw。Hence，whoeverresiststhefinaldecisionofthehighestjudicialtribunalaimsadeadlyblowatourwholerepublicansystemofgovernment——ablowwhich，ifsuccessful，wouldplaceallourrightsandlibertiesatthemercyofpassion，anarchy，andviolence。Irepeat，therefore，thatifresistancetothedecisionsoftheSupremeCourtoftheUnitedStates，inamatterlikethepointsdecidedintheDredScottcase，clearlywithintheirjurisdictionasdefinedbytheConstitution，shallbeforceduponthecountryasapoliticalissue，itwillbecomeadistinctandnakedissuebetweenthefriendsandenemiesoftheConstitution——thefriendsandtheenemiesofthesupremacyofthelaws。"

Why，thissameSupremeCourtoncedecidedanationalbanktobeconstitutional；butGeneralJackson，asPresidentoftheUnitedStates，disregardedthedecision，andvetoedabillforarecharter，partlyonconstitutionalground，declaringthateachpublicfunctionarymustsupporttheConstitution"asheunderstandsit。"ButheartheGeneral’sownwords。Heretheyare，takenfromhisvetomessage：

"Itismaintainedbytheadvocatesofthebankthatitsconstitutionality，inallitsfeatures，oughttobeconsideredassettledbyprecedent，andbythedecisionoftheSupremeCourt。

TothisconclusionIcannotassent。Mereprecedentisadangeroussourceofauthority，andshouldnotberegardedasdecidingquestionsofconstitutionalpower，exceptwheretheacquiescenceofthepeopleandtheStatescanbeconsideredaswellsettled。Sofarfromthisbeingthecaseonthissubject，anargumentagainstthebankmightbebasedonprecedent。OneCongress，in1791，decidedinfavorofabank；another，in1811，decidedagainstit。OneCongress，in1815，decidedagainstabank；another，in1816，decidedinitsfavor。PriortothepresentCongress，therefore，theprecedentsdrawnfromthatcoursewereequal。IfweresorttotheStates，theexpressionsoflegislative，judicial，andexecutiveopinionsagainstthebankhavebeenprobablytothoseinitsfavorasfourtoone。Thereisnothinginprecedent，therefore，which，ifitsauthoritywereadmitted，oughttoweighinfavoroftheactbeforeme。"

IdropthequotationsmerelytoremarkthatallthereeverwasinthewayofprecedentuptotheDredScottdecision，onthepointsthereindecided，hadbeenagainstthatdecision。ButhearGeneralJacksonfurther：

"IftheopinionoftheSupremeCourtcoveredthewholegroundofthisact，itoughtnottocontrolthecoordinateauthoritiesofthisgovernment。TheCongress，theexecutive，andthecourtsmust，eachforitself，beguidedbyitsownopinionoftheConstitution。EachpublicofficerwhotakesanoathtosupporttheConstitutionswearsthathewillsupportitasheunderstandsit，andnotasitisunderstoodbyothers。"

AgainandagainhaveIheardJudgeDouglasdenouncethatbankdecisionandapplaudGeneralJacksonfordisregardingit。Itwouldbeinterestingforhimtolookoverhisrecentspeech，andseehowexactlyhisfiercephilippicsagainstusforresistingSupremeCourtdecisionsfalluponhisownhead。Itwillcalltomindalongandfiercepoliticalwarinthiscountry，uponanissuewhich，inhisownlanguage，and，ofcourse，inhisownchangelessestimation，wasadistinctissuebetweenthefriendsandtheenemiesoftheConstitution，"andinwhichwarhefoughtintheranksoftheenemiesoftheConstitution。

Ihavesaid，insubstance，thattheDredScottdecisionwasinpartbasedonassumedhistoricalfactswhichwerenotreallytrue，andIoughtnottoleavethesubjectwithoutgivingsomereasonsforsayingthis；Ithereforegiveaninstanceortwo，whichIthinkfullysustainme。ChiefJusticeTaney，indeliveringtheopinionofthemajorityofthecourt，insistsatgreatlengththatnegroeswerenopartofthepeoplewhomade，orforwhomwasmade，theDeclarationofIndependence，ortheConstitutionoftheUnitedStates。

Onthecontrary，JudgeCurtis，inhisdissentingopinion，showsthatinfiveofthethenthirteenStates——towit，NewHampshire，Massachusetts，NewYork，NewJersey，andNorthCarolina——freenegroeswerevoters，andinproportiontotheirnumbershadthesamepartinmakingtheConstitutionthatthewhitepeoplehad。

Heshowsthiswithsomuchparticularityastoleavenodoubtofitstruth；andasasortofconclusiononthatpoint，holdsthefollowinglanguage：

"TheConstitutionwasordainedandestablishedbythepeopleoftheUnitedStates，throughtheaction，ineachState，ofthosepersonswhowerequalifiedbyitslawstoactthereoninbehalfofthemselvesandallothercitizensoftheState。InsomeoftheStates，aswehaveseen，coloredpersonswereamongthosequalifiedbylawtoactonthesubject。Thesecoloredpersonswerenotonlyincludedinthebodyof’thepeopleoftheUnitedStates’bywhomtheConstitutionwasordainedandestablished；

butinatleastfiveoftheStatestheyhadthepowertoact，anddoubtlessdidact，bytheirsuffrages，uponthequestionofitsadoption。"

Again，ChiefJusticeTaneysays：

"Itisdifficultatthisdaytorealizethestateofpublicopinion，inrelationtothatunfortunaterace，whichprevailedinthecivilizedandenlightenedportionsoftheworldatthetimeoftheDeclarationofIndependence，andwhentheConstitutionoftheUnitedStateswasframedandadopted。"

Andagain，afterquotingfromtheDeclaration，hesays：

"Thegeneralwordsabovequotedwouldseemtoincludethewholehumanfamily，andiftheywereusedinasimilarinstrumentatthisday，wouldbesounderstood。"

InthesetheChiefJusticedoesnotdirectlyassert，butplainlyassumesasafact，thatthepublicestimateoftheblackmanismorefavorablenowthanitwasinthedaysoftheRevolution。

Thisassumptionisamistake。Insometriflingparticularstheconditionofthatracehasbeenameliorated；butasawhole，inthiscountry，thechangebetweenthenandnowisdecidedlytheotherway，andtheirultimatedestinyhasneverappearedsohopelessasinthelastthreeorfouryears。IntwoofthefiveStates——NewJerseyandNorthCarolina——thatthengavethefreenegrotherightofvoting，therighthassincebeentakenaway，andinathird——NewYork——ithasbeengreatlyabridged；whileithasnotbeenextended，sofarasIknow，toasingleadditionalState，thoughthenumberoftheStateshasmorethandoubled。Inthosedays，asIunderstand，masterscould，attheirownpleasure，emancipatetheirslaves；butsincethensuchlegalrestraintshavebeenmadeuponemancipationastoamountalmosttoprohibition。InthosedaysLegislaturesheldtheunquestionedpowertoabolishslaveryintheirrespectiveStates，butnowitisbecomingquitefashionableforStateconstitutionstowithholdthatpowerfromtheLegislatures。Inthosedays，bycommonconsent，thespreadoftheblackman’sbondagetothenewcountrieswasprohibited，butnowCongressdecidesthatitwillnotcontinuetheprohibition，andtheSupremeCourtdecidesthatitcouldnotifitwould。InthosedaysourDeclarationofIndependencewasheldsacredbyall，andthoughttoincludeall；

butnow，toaidinmakingthebondageofthenegrouniversalandeternal，itisassailedandsneeredatandconstruedandhawkedatandtorn，till，ifitsframerscouldrisefromtheirgraves，theycouldnotatallrecognizeit。Allthepowersofearthseemrapidlycombiningagainsthim。Mammonisafterhim，ambitionfollows，philosophyfollows，andthetheologyofthedayfastjoiningthecry。Theyhavehiminhisprisonhouse；

theyhavesearchedhisperson，andleftnopryinginstrumentwithhim。Oneafteranothertheyhaveclosedtheheavyirondoorsuponhim；andnowtheyhavehim，asitwere，boltedinwithalockofhundredkeys，whichcanneverbeunlockedwithouttheconcurrenceofeverykey——thekeysinthehandsofahundreddifferentmen，andtheyscatteredtohundreddifferentanddistantplaces；andtheystandmusingastowhatinvention，inallthedominionsofmindandmatter，canbeproducedtomaketheimpossibilityofhisescapemorecompletethanitis。

Itisgrosslyincorrecttosayorassumethatthepublicestimateofthenegroismorefavorablenowthanitwasattheoriginofthegovernment。

Threeyearsandahalfago，JudgeDouglasbroughtforwardhisfamousNebraskaBill。Thecountrywasatonceinablaze。Hescornedallopposition，andcarrieditthroughCongress。SincethenhehasseenhimselfsupersededinaPresidentialnominationbyoneindorsingthegeneraldoctrineofhismeasure，butatthesametimestandingclearoftheodiumofitsuntimelyagitationanditsgrossbreachofnationalfaith；andhehasseenthatsuccessfulrivalconstitutionallyelected，notbythestrengthoffriends，butbythedivisionofadversaries，beinginapopularminorityofnearlyfourhundredthousandvotes。HehasseenhischiefaidsinhisownState，ShieldsandRichardson，politicallyspeaking，successivelytried，convicted，andexecutedforanoffencenottheirownbuthis。Andnowheseeshisowncasestandingnextonthedocketfortrial。