第24章

Gentlemen，IhavealreadyspokenlongerthanIintended，andmustbegleavetostophere。

REPLYTOTHEMAYOROFPHILADELPHIA，PENNSYLVANIA，FEBRUARY21，1861

MR。MAYORANDFELLOW—CITIZENSOFPHILADELPHIA：——Iappearbeforeyoutomakenolengthyspeech，buttothankyouforthisreception。Thereceptionyouhavegivenmeto—nightisnottome，theman，theindividual，buttothemanwhotemporarilyrepresents，orshouldrepresent，themajestyofthenation。Itistrue，asyourworthymayorhassaid，thatthereisgreatanxietyamongstthecitizensoftheUnitedStatesatthistime。Ideemitahappycircumstancethatthisdissatisfiedportionofourfellow—citizensdoesnotpointustoanythinginwhichtheyarebeinginjuredorabouttobeinjured；forwhichreasonIhavefeltallthewhilejustifiedinconcludingthatthecrisis，thepanic，theanxietyofthecountryatthistimeisartificial。Iftherebethosewhodifferwithmeuponthissubject，theyhavenotpointedoutthesubstantialdifficultythatexists。

Idonotmeantosaythatanartificialpanicmaynotdoconsiderableharm；thatithasdonesuchIdonotdeny。Thehopethathasbeenexpressedbyyourmayor，thatImaybeabletorestorepeace，harmony，andprosperitytothecountry，ismostworthyofhim；andmosthappy，indeed，willIbeifIshallbeabletoverifyandfulfilthathope。IpromiseyouthatIbringtotheworkasincereheart。

WhetherIwillbringaheadequaltothatheartwillbeforfuturetimestodetermine。Itwereuselessformetospeakofdetailsofplansnow；IshallspeakofficiallynextMondayweek，ifever。IfI

shouldnotspeakthen，itwereuselessformetodosonow。IfIdospeakthen，itisuselessformetodosonow。WhenIdospeak，I

shalltakesuchgroundasIdeembestcalculatedtorestorepeace，harmony，andprosperitytothecountry，andtendtotheperpetuityofthenationandthelibertyoftheseStatesandthesepeople。Yourworthymayorhasexpressedthewish，inwhichIjoinwithhim，thatitwereconvenientformetoremaininyourcitylongenoughtoconsultyourmerchantsandmanufacturers；or，asitwere，tolistentothosebreathingsrisingwithintheconsecratedwallswhereintheConstitutionoftheUnitedStatesand，Iwilladd，theDeclarationofIndependence，wereoriginallyframedandadopted。IassureyouandyourmayorthatIhadhopedonthisoccasion，anduponalloccasionsduringmylife，thatIshalldonothinginconsistentwiththeteachingsoftheseholyandmostsacredwalls。Ihaveneveraskedanythingthatdoesnotbreathefromthosewalls。Allmypoliticalwarfarehasbeeninfavoroftheteachingsthatcomeforthfromthesesacredwalls。MaymyrighthandforgetitscunningandmytonguecleavetotheroofofmymouthifeverIprovefalsetothoseteachings。Fellow—citizens，IhaveaddressedyoulongerthanI

expectedtodo，andnowallowmetobidyougoodnight。

ADDRESSINTHEHALLOFINDEPENDENCE，PHILADELPHIA，FEBRUARY22，1861

MR。CUYLER：——Iamfilledwithdeepemotionatfindingmyselfstandinghere，inthisplace，wherewerecollectedtogetherthewisdom，thedevotiontoprinciple，fromwhichsprangtheinstitutionsunderwhichwelive。Youhavekindlysuggestedtomethatinmyhandsisthetaskofrestoringpeacetothepresentdistractedconditionofthecountry。Icansayinreturn，sir，thatallthepoliticalsentimentsIentertainhavebeendrawn，sofarasIhavebeenabletodrawthem，fromthesentimentswhichoriginatedandweregiventotheworldfromthishall。IhaveneverhadafeelingpoliticallythatdidnotspringfromthesentimentsembodiedintheDeclarationofIndependence。IhaveoftenponderedoverthedangerswhichwereincurredbythemenwhoassembledhereandframedandadoptedthatDeclarationofIndependence。Ihaveponderedoverthetoilsthatwereenduredbytheofficersandsoldiersofthearmywhoachievedthatindependence。Ihaveofteninquiredofmyselfwhatgreatprincipleorideaitwasthatkepttheconfederacysolongtogether。

Itwasnotthemerematterofseparationofthecoloniesfromthemotherland，butthatsentimentintheDeclarationofIndependencewhichgaveliberty，notalonetothepeopleofthiscountry，but，I

hope，totheworldforallfuturetime。Itwasthatwhichgavepromisethatinduetimetheweightwouldbeliftedfromtheshouldersofallmen。ThisisthesentimentembodiedintheDeclarationofIndependence。Now，myfriends，canthecountrybesaveduponthatbasis？Ifitcan，IwillconsidermyselfoneofthehappiestmenintheworldifIcanhelptosaveit。Ifitcannotbesaveduponthatprinciple，itwillbetrulyawful。Butifthiscountrycannotbesavedwithoutgivingupthatprinciple，IwasabouttosayIwouldratherbeassassinatedonthisspotthansurrenderit。

Now，inmyviewofthepresentaspectofaffairs，thereneedbenobloodshedorwar。Thereisnonecessityforit。Iamnotinfavorofsuchacourse，andImaysay，inadvance，thattherewillbenobloodshedunlessitisforcedupontheGovernment，andthenitwillbecompelledtoactinself—defence。

Myfriends；thisiswhollyanunexpectedspeech，andIdidnotexpecttobecalledupontosayawordwhenIcamehere。Isupposeditwasmerelytodosomethingtowardraisingtheflag。Imay，therefore，havesaidsomethingindiscreet。IhavesaidnothingbutwhatIamwillingtolivebyand，ifitbethepleasureofAlmightyGod，dieby。

REPLYTOTHEWILMINGTONDELEGATION，FEBRUARY22，1861

MR。CHAIRMAN：——Ifeelhighlyflatteredbytheencomiumsyouhaveseenfittobestowuponme。SoonafterthenominationofGeneralTaylor，IattendedapoliticalmeetinginthecityofWilmington，andhavesincecarriedwithmeafondremembranceofthehospitalitiesofthecityonthatoccasion。TheprogrammeestablishedprovidesformypresenceinHarrisburgintwenty—fourhoursfromthistime。IexpecttobeinWashingtononSaturday。Itis，therefore，animpossibilitythatIshouldacceptyourkindinvitation。TherearenopeoplewhomIwouldmoregladlyaccommodatethanthoseofDelaware；butcircumstancesforbid，gentlemen。WithmanyregretsforthecharacterofthereplyIamcompelledtogiveyou，Ibidyouadieu。

ADDRESSATLANCASTER，PENNSYLVANIA，FEBRUARY22，1860

LADIESANDGENTLEMENOFOLDLANCASTER：——Iappearnottomakeaspeech。Ihavenottimetomakeaspeechatlength，andnotstrengthtomakethemoneveryoccasion；and，worsethanall，Ihavenonetomake。Thereisplentyofmattertospeakaboutinthesetimes，butitiswellknownthatthemoreamanspeaksthelessheisunderstood——themorehesaysonething，themorehisadversariescontendhemeantsomethingelse。Ishallsoonhaveoccasiontospeakofficially，andthenIwillendeavortoputmythoughtsjustasplainasIcanexpressmyself——truetotheConstitutionandUnionofalltheStates，andtotheperpetuallibertyofallthepeople。UntilI

sospeak，thereisnoneedtoenterupondetails。Inconclusion，I

greetyoumostheartily，andbidyouanaffectionatefarewell。

ADDRESSTOTHELEGISLATUREOFPENNSYLVANIA，ATHARRISBURG，FEBRUARY22，1861

MR。SPEAKEROFTHESENATE，ANDALSOMR。SPEAKEROFTHEHOUSEOF

REPRESENTATIVES，ANDGENTLEMENOFTHEGENERALASSEMBLYOFTHESTATE

OFPENNSYLVANIA：——Iappearbeforeyouonlyforaveryfewbriefremarksinresponsetowhathasbeensaidtome。Ithankyoumostsincerelyforthisreception，andthegenerouswordsinwhichsupporthasbeenpromisedmeuponthisoccasion。Ithankyourgreatcommonwealthfortheoverwhelmingsupportitrecentlygave，notmepersonally，butthecausewhichIthinkajustone，inthelateelection。

Allusionhasbeenmadetothefact——theinterestingfactperhapsweshouldsay——thatIforthefirsttimeappearatthecapitalofthegreatcommonwealthofPennsylvaniauponthebirthdayoftheFatherofhisCountry。Inconnectionwiththatbelovedanniversaryconnectedwiththehistoryofthiscountry，IhavealreadygonethroughoneexceedinglyinterestingscenethismorningintheceremoniesatPhiladelphia。Underthekindconductofgentlementhere，IwasforthefirsttimeallowedtheprivilegeofstandinginoldIndependenceHalltohaveafewwordsaddressedtomethere，andopeninguptomeanopportunityofmanifestingmydeepregretthatIhadnotmoretimetoexpresssomethingofmyownfeelingsexcitedbytheoccasion，thathadbeenreallythefeelingsofmywholelife。

Besidesthis，ourfriendstherehadprovidedamagnificentflagofthecountry。TheyhadarrangeditsothatIwasgiventhehonorofraisingittotheheadofitsstaff，andwhenitwentupIwaspleasedthatitwenttoitsplacebythestrengthofmyownfeeblearm。When，accordingtothearrangement，thecordwaspulled，anditfloatedgloriouslytothewind，withoutanaccident，inthebright，glowingsunshineofthemorning，Icouldnothelphopingthattherewasintheentiresuccessofthatbeautifulceremonyatleastsomethingofanomenofwhatistocome。NorcouldIhelpfeelingthen，asIhaveoftenfelt，thatinthewholeofthatproceedingI

wasaveryhumbledinstrument。Ihadnotprovidedtheflag；Ihadnotmadethearrangementsforelevatingittoitsplace；Ihadappliedbutaverysmallportionofevenmyfeeblestrengthinraisingit。InthewholetransactionIwasinthehandsofthepeoplewhohadarrangedit，andifIcanhavethesamegenerousco—operationofthepeopleofthisnation，Ithinktheflagofourcountrymayyetbekeptflauntinggloriously。

IrecurforamomentbuttorepeatsomewordsutteredatthehotelinregardtowhathasbeensaidaboutthemilitarysupportwhichtheGeneralGovernmentmayexpectfromthecommonwealthofPennsylvaniainaproperemergency。ToguardagainstanypossiblemistakedoI

recurtothis。ItisnotwithanypleasurethatIcontemplatethepossibilitythatanecessitymayariseinthiscountryfortheuseofthemilitaryarm。WhileIamexceedinglygratifiedtoseethemanifestationuponyourstreetsofyourmilitaryforcehere，andexceedinglygratifiedatyourpromisetousethatforceuponaproperemergency——whileImaketheseacknowledgmentsIdesiretorepeat，inordertoprecludeanypossiblemisconstruction，thatIdomostsincerelyhopethatweshallhavenouseforthem；thatitwillneverbecometheirdutytoshedblood，andmostespeciallynevertoshedfraternalblood。IpromisethatsofarasImayhavewisdomtodirect，ifsopainfularesultshallinanywisebebroughtabout，itshallhethroughnofaultofmine。

AllusionhasalsobeenmadebyoneofyourhonoredspeakerstosomeremarksrecentlymadebymyselfatPittsburginregardtowhatissupposedtobetheespecialinterestofthisgreatcommonwealthofPennsylvania。Inowwishonlytosayinregardtothatmatter，thatthefewremarkswhichIutteredonthatoccasionwererathercarefullyworded。Itookpainsthattheyshouldbeso。Ihaveseennooccasionsincetoaddtothemorsubtractfromthem。Ileavethempreciselyastheystand，addingonlynowthatIampleasedtohaveanexpressionfromyou，gentlemenofPennsylvania，signifyingthattheyaresatisfactorytoyou。

Andnow，gentlemenoftheGeneralAssemblyoftheCommonwealthofPennsylvania，allowmeagaintoreturntoyoumymostsincerethanks。

REPLYTOTHEMAYOROFWASHINGTON，D。C。，FEBRUARY27，1861

Mr。MAYOR：——Ithankyou，andthroughyouthemunicipalauthoritiesofthiscitywhoaccompanyyou，forthiswelcome。Andasitisthefirsttimeinmylife，sincethepresentphaseofpoliticshaspresenteditselfinthiscountry，thatIhavesaidanythingpubliclywithinaregionofcountrywheretheinstitutionofslaveryexists，I

willtakethisoccasiontosaythatIthinkverymuchoftheillfeelingthathasexistedandstillexistsbetweenthepeopleinthesectionfromwhichIcameandthepeoplehere，isdependentuponamisunderstandingofoneanother。Ithereforeavailmyselfofthisopportunitytoassureyou，Mr。Mayor，andallthegentlemenpresent，thatIhavenotnow，andneverhavehad，anyotherthanaskindlyfeelingstowardyouastothepeopleofmyownsection。Ihavenotnow，andneverhavehad，anydispositiontotreatyouinanyrespectotherwisethanasmyownneighbors。IhavenotnowanypurposetowithholdfromyouanyofthebenefitsoftheConstitution，underanycircumstances，thatIwouldnotfeelmyselfconstrainedtowithholdfrommyownneighbors；andIhope，inaword，thatwhenweshallbecomebetteracquainted——andIsayitwithgreatconfidence——weshalllikeeachotherbetter。Ithankyouforthekindnessofthisreception。

REPLYTOASERENADEATWASHINGTON，D。C。，FEBRUARY28，1861

MYFRIENDS：——IsupposethatImaytakethisasacomplimentpaidtome，andassuchpleaseacceptmythanksforit。IhavereachedthiscityofWashingtonundercircumstancesconsiderablydifferingfromthoseunderwhichanyothermanhaseverreachedit。Iamhereforthepurposeoftakinganofficialpositionamongstthepeople，almostallofwhomwerepoliticallyopposedtome，andareyetopposedtome，asIsuppose。

Iproposenolengthyaddresstoyou。Ionlyproposetosay，asIdidonyesterday，whenyourworthymayorandboardofaldermencalleduponme，thatIthoughtmuchoftheillfeelingthathasexistedbetweenyouandthepeopleofyoursurroundingsandthatpeoplefromamongwhomIcame，hasdepended，andnowdepends，uponamisunderstanding。

Ihopethat，ifthingsshallgoalongasprosperouslyasIbelievewealldesiretheymay，Imayhaveitinmypowertoremovesomethingofthismisunderstanding；thatImaybeenabledtoconvinceyou，andthepeopleofyoursectionofthecountry，thatweregardyouasinallthingsourequals，andinallthingsentitledtothesamerespectandthesametreatmentthatweclaimforourselves；thatweareinnowisedisposed，ifitwereinourpower，tooppressyou，todepriveyouofanyofyourrightsundertheConstitutionoftheUnitedStates，orevennarrowlytosplithairswithyouinregardtotheserights，butaredeterminedtogiveyou，asfarasliesinourhands，allyourrightsundertheConstitution——notgrudgingly，butfullyandfairly。Ihopethat，bythusdealingwithyou，wewillbecomebetteracquainted，andbebetterfriends。

Andnow，myfriends，withthesefewremarks，andagainreturningmythanksforthiscompliment，andexpressingmydesiretohearalittlemoreofyourgoodmusic，Ibidyougood—night。

WASHINGTON，SUNDAY，MARCH3，1861

[DuringthestruggleovertheappointmentsofLINCOLN’sCabinet，thePresident—electspokeasfollows：]

Gentlemen，itisevidentthatsomeonemusttaketheresponsibilityoftheseappointments，andIwilldoit。MyCabinetiscompleted。

Thepositionsarenotdefinitelyassigned，andwillnotbeuntilI

announcethemprivatelytothegentlemenwhomIhaveselectedasmyConstitutionaladvisers。

FIRSTINAUGURALADDRESS，MARCH4，1861

FELLOW—CITIZENSOFTHEUNITEDSTATES：——IncompliancewithacustomasoldastheGovernmentitself，Iappearbeforeyoutoaddressyoubriefly，andtotakeinyourpresencetheoathprescribedbytheConstitutionoftheUnitedStatestobetakenbythePresident"beforeheentersontheexecutionofhisoffice。"

Idonotconsideritnecessaryatpresentformetodiscussthosemattersofadministrationaboutwhichthereisnospecialanxietyorexcitement。

ApprehensionseemstoexistamongthepeopleoftheSouthernStatesthatbytheaccessionofaRepublicanadministrationtheirpropertyandtheirpeaceandpersonalsecurityaretobeendangered。Therehasneverbeenanyreasonablecauseforsuchapprehension。Indeed，themostampleevidencetothecontraryhasallthewhileexistedandbeenopentotheirinspection。Itisfoundinnear1yallthepublishedspeechesofhimwhonowaddressesyou。IdobutquotefromoneofthosespeecheswhenIdeclarethat"Ihavenopurpose，directlyorindirectly，tointerferewiththeinstitutionofslaveryintheStateswhereitexists。IbelieveI

havenolawfulrighttodoso，andIhavenoinclinationtodoso。"

ThosewhonominatedandelectedmedidsowithfullknowledgethatI

hadmadethisandmanysimilardeclarations，andhadneverrecantedthem。And，morethanthis，theyplacedintheplatformformyacceptance，andasalawtothemselvesandtome，theclearandemphaticresolutionwhichInowread：

"Resolved，ThatthemaintenanceinviolateoftherightsoftheStates，andespeciallytherightofeachStatetoorderandcontrolitsowndomesticinstitutionsaccordingtoitsownjudgmentexclusively，isessentialtothatbalanceofpoweronwhichtheperfectionandenduranceofourpoliticalfabricdepend，andwedenouncethelawlessinvasionbyarmedforceofthesoilofanyStateorTerritory，nomatterunderwhatpretext，asamongstthegravestofcrimes。"

Inowreiteratethesesentiments；and，indoingso，Ionlypressuponthepublicattentionthemostconclusiveevidenceofwhichthecaseissusceptible，thattheproperty，peace，andsecurityofnosectionaretobeinanywiseendangeredbythenowincomingadministration。

Iadd，too，thatalltheprotectionwhich，consistentlywiththeConstitutionandthelaws，canbegiven，willbecheerfullygiventoalltheStateswhenlawfullydemanded，forwhatevercause——ascheerfullytoonesectionastoanother。

Thereismuchcontroversyaboutthedeliveringupoffugitivesfromserviceorlabor。TheclauseInowreadisasplainlywrittenintheConstitutionasanyotherofitsprovisions：

"NopersonheldtoserviceorlaborinoneState，underthelawsthereof，escapingintoanother，shallinconsequenceofanylaworregulationthereinbedischargedfromsuchserviceorlabor，butshallbedelivereduponclaimofthepartytowhomsuchserviceorlabormaybedue。"

Itisscarcelyquestionedthatthisprovisionwasintendedbythosewhomadeitforthereclaimingofwhatwecallfugitiveslaves；andtheintentionofthelawgiveristhelaw。AllmembersofCongresssweartheirsupporttothewholeConstitution——tothisprovisionasmuchastoanyother。Totheproposition，then，thatslaveswhosecasescomewithinthetermsofthisclause"shallbedeliveredup，"

theiroathsareunanimous。Now，iftheywouldmaketheeffortingoodtemper，couldtheynotwithnearlyequalunanimityframeandpassalawbymeansofwhichtokeepgoodthatunanimousoath？

ThereissomedifferenceofopinionwhetherthisclauseshouldbeenforcedbynationalorbyStateauthority；butsurelythatdifferenceisnotaverymaterialone。Iftheslaveistobesurrendered，itcanbeofbutlittleconsequencetohimortoothersbywhichauthorityitisdone。Andshouldanyoneinanycasebecontentthathisoathshallgounkeptonamerelyunsubstantialcontroversyastohowitshallbekept？

Again，inanylawuponthissubject，oughtnotallthesafeguardsoflibertyknownincivilizedandhumanejurisprudencetobeintroduced，sothatafreemanbenot，inanycase，surrenderedasaslave？AndmightitnotbewellatthesametimetoprovidebylawfortheenforcementofthatclauseintheConstitutionwhichguaranteesthat"thecitizensofeachStateshallbeentitledtoallprivilegesandimmunitiesofcitizensintheseveralStates"？

Itaketheofficialoathto—daywithnomentalreservations，andwithnopurposetoconstruetheConstitutionorlawsbyanyhypercriticalrules。And，whileIdonotchoosenowtospecifyparticularactsofCongressaspropertobeenforced，Idosuggestthatitwillbemuchsaferforall，bothinofficialandprivatestations，toconformtoandabidebyallthoseactswhichstandunrepealed，thantoviolateanyofthem，trustingtofindimpunityinhavingthemheldtobeunconstitutional。

Itisseventy—twoyearssincethefirstinaugurationofaPresidentunderournationalConstitution。Duringthatperiodfifteendifferentandgreatlydistinguishedcitizenshave，insuccession，administeredtheexecutivebranchoftheGovernment。Theyhaveconducteditthroughmanyperils，andgenerallywithgreatsuccess。

Yet，withallthisscopeofprecedent，Inowenteruponthesametaskforthebriefconstitutionaltermoffouryearsundergreatandpeculiardifficulty。AdisruptionoftheFederalUnion，heretoforeonlymenaced，isnowformidablyattempted。

Iholdthat，incontemplationofuniversallawandoftheConstitution，theUnionoftheseStatesisperpetual。Perpetuityisimplied，ifnotexpressed，inthefundamentallawofallnationalgovernments。Itissafetoassertthatnogovernmentpropereverhadaprovisioninitsorganiclawforitsowntermination。ContinuetoexecutealltheexpressprovisionsofournationalConstitution，andtheUnionwillendureforever——itbeingimpossibletodestroyitexceptbysomeactionnotprovidedforintheinstrumentitself。

Again，iftheUnitedStatesbenotagovernmentproper，butanassociationofStatesinthenatureofcontractmerely，canitasacontractbepeaceablyunmadebylessthanallthepartieswhomadeit？Onepartytoacontractmayviolateit——breakit，sotospeak；

butdoesitnotrequirealltolawfullyrescindit？

Descendingfromthesegeneralprinciples，wefindthepropositionthatinlegalcontemplationtheUnionisperpetualconfirmedbythehistoryoftheUnionitself。TheUnionismucholderthantheConstitution。Itwasformed，infact，bytheArticlesofAssociationin1774。ItwasmaturedandcontinuedbytheDeclarationofIndependencein1776。Itwasfurthermatured，andthefaithofallthethenthirteenStatesexpresslyplightedandengagedthatitshouldbeperpetual，bytheArticlesofConfederationin1778。And，finally，in1787oneofthedeclaredobjectsforordainingandestablishingtheConstitutionwas"toformamoreperfectUnion。"

ButifthedestructionoftheUnionbyoneorbyapartonlyoftheStatesbelawfullypossible，theUnionislessperfectthanbeforetheConstitution，havinglostthevitalelementofperpetuity。

ItfollowsfromtheseviewsthatnoStateuponitsownmeremotioncanlawfullygetoutoftheUnion；thatresolvesandordinancestothateffectarelegallyvoid；andthatactsofviolence，withinanyStateorStates，againsttheauthorityoftheUnitedStates，areinsurrectionaryorrevolutionary，accordingtocircumstances。

Ithereforec