Complete Works of Abraham Lincoln, Volume 5Lamb Publishing Company, 1905 - Illinois |
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Common terms and phrases
abolished Abraham Lincoln admit adopt African slave-trade agitation argument believe bushwhacking Clay compromise Congress consider Constitution crocodile dear Sir Declaration of Independence Democrats desire Douglas's Dred Scott decision election equal exist expressed fact fathers who framed favor Federal Territories framed the government friends Harper's Ferry Henry Clay hold Illinois insist institution of slavery invention Judge Douglas Kansas labor Lecompton Lecompton constitution legislation LETTER live matter ment Missouri Missouri Compromise negro never Ohio ordinance of 87 organization peace political popular sovereignty President principle prohibiting slavery proposition purpose question regard Republican party Senator Douglas sentiment Seward slav slave slave-trade slavery is wrong South speech spread of slavery SPRINGFIELD stand stitution suppose thing think slavery thought tion true ultimate extinction understand Union United vote Whig whole words
Popular passages
Page xv - We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory, stretching from every battlefield and patriot grave to every living heart and hearthstone all over this broad land, will yet swell the chorus of the Union, when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature.
Page 45 - I do not expect the house to fall, but I do expect it will cease to be divided. It will become all one thing, or all the other. Either the opponents of slavery will arrest the further spread of it, and place it where the public mind shall rest in the belief that it is in the course of ultimate extinction; or its advocates will push it forward till it shall become alike lawful in all the States, old as well as new, North as well as South.
Page 142 - I have no purpose directly or indirectly, to interfere with the institution of slavery in the States where it exists. I believe I have no lawful right to do so ; and I have no inclination to do so.
Page 180 - ... the right of property in a slave is distinctly and expressly affirmed in the Constitution.
Page 294 - ... understood the question just as well, and even better, than we do now/' But enough. Let all who believe that " our fathers, who framed the government under which we live, understood this question just as well, and even better, than we do now/' speak as they spoke, and act as they acted upon it.
Page 35 - This they said, and this they meant. They did not mean to assert the obvious untruth that all were then actually enjoying that equality, nor yet that they were about to confer it immediately upon them. In fact, they had no power to confer such a boon. They meant simply to declare the right, so that enforcement of it might follow as fast as circumstances should permit.
Page 144 - I will say in addition to this that there is a physical difference between the white and black races which I believe will forever forbid the two races living together on terms of social and political equality.
Page 287 - ... to the rule of three. If a straggler supposed to understand Latin happened to sojourn, in the neighborhood, he was looked upon as a wizard. There was absolutely nothing to excite ambition for education. Of course, when I came of age I did not know much. Still, somehow, I could read, write, and cipher to the rule of three, but that was all.
Page 248 - A few men own capital, and that few avoid labor themselves, and, with their capital, hire or buy another few to labor for them. A large majority belong to neither class -neither work for others, nor have others working for them.
Page xix - Such minority was precisely the case of the Tories of our own Revolution. It is a quality of revolutions not to go by old lines, or old laws ; but to break up both, and make new ones.