How We Elected Lincoln: Personal Recollections of Lincoln and Men of His Time |
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abolitionists Abraham Lincoln administration Andrew Johnson anti-slavery Army asked ballot Baltimore Bates battle became Breckenridge Cabinet campaign Carson Chase Chicago Confederacy Congress Constitution declared delegates Democratic convention didate DITTENHOEFER Douglas's egates ELECTED LINCOLN Emancipation Emancipation Proclamation extension of slavery extinction of slavery favor Federal cause Fernando Wood Free Soil Fremont gave Governor Greeley's Hamlin Henry Winter Davis Horace Greeley hostile House Illinois Jefferson Davis John Kate Chase Sprague labor later leaders letter Lincoln and Douglas Lincoln's nomination Little Giant McClellan Missouri negro never North Northern Ohio parade peace Pennsylvania platform political popular vote President Lincoln Presidential pro-slavery re-election rebellion received RECOLLECTIONS regarding renomination replied Republican party Senator Seward slavery slavery question slaves South Southern speakers speech Springfield Street Tammany Tammany Hall Territories Thurlow Weed Tilden tion Tom Hyer Tribune Union United Vice-President views voters Washington words York
Popular passages
Page 40 - My Friends, No one not in my situation can appreciate my feeling of sadness at this parting. To this place, and the kindness of these people, I owe everything. Here I have lived a quarter of a century, and have passed from a young to an old man. Here my children have been born, and one is buried. I now leave, not knowing when or whether ever I may return, with a task before me greater than that which rested upon Washington.
Page 67 - I do the very best I know how — the very best I can ; and I mean to keep doing so until the end. If the end brings me out all right, what is said against me won't amount to anything. If the end brings me out wrong, ten angels swearing I was right would make no difference.
Page 90 - American people, that after four years of failure to restore the Union by the experiment of war, during which, under the pretense of a military necessity, or war power higher than the Constitution, the Constitution itself has been disregarded in every part, and public liberty and private right alike trodden down, and the material prosperity of the country essentially impaired, justice, humanity, liberty, and the public welfare demand...
Page 53 - Please read and answer this letter as though I was not President, but only a friend. My son, now in his twenty-second year, having graduated at Harvard, wishes to see something of the war before it ends. I do not wish to put him in the ranks, nor yet to give him a commission, to which those who have already served long are better entitled and better qualified to hold. Could he, without embarrassment to you or detriment to the service, go into your military family with some nominal rank, I, and not...
Page 17 - Let us have faith that right makes might, and in that faith let us to the end dare to do our duty as we understand it.
Page 85 - This morning, as for some days past, it seems exceedingly probable that this Administration will not be re-elected. Then it will be my duty to so cooperate with the President-elect, as to save the Union between the election and the inauguration ; as he will have secured his election on such ground that he cannot possibly save it afterwards.
Page 17 - Wrong as we think slavery is, we can yet afford to let it alone where it is, because that much is due to the necessity arising from its actual presence in the nation; but can we, while our votes will prevent it, allow it to spread into the national Territories, and to overrun us here in these free States? If our sense of duty forbids this, then let us stand by our duty fearlessly and effectively.
Page 50 - Labor is prior to and independent of capital. Capital is only the fruit of labor, and could never have existed if labor had not first existed. Labor is the superior of capital, and deserves much the higher consideration.
Page 45 - With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive to finish the work we are in...
Page 40 - Without the assistance of that Divine Being who ever attended him, I cannot succeed. With that assistance, I cannot fail. Trusting in Him who can go with me, and remain with you, and be everywhere for good, let us confidently hope that all will yet be well. To His care commending you, as I hope in your prayers you will commend me, I bid you an affectionate farewell.