The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1858-08-07
50 90 A YEAR, IN ADVANCE.

tiOn OF Independence did not mean nnythin,
at all, we have Judge Douglas giving hi
exposition of what the Declaration of Indc
pendence means, and we have him sayin,
that the people of America were equal t
the people of England. According to hi
construction, you Germans are not connect
cd with it. Now ask you in all soberness
if all these things, If INDUCED in, if ratified
if confirmed and endorsed, if taught to ou
children and repeated to them, do not ten,
to rub out the sentiment of liberty in tn
country. and to transform this Goyernmen
into government Of some other FORM
These arguments that are made, that the in
fcrior race are to be treated with as mucl
allowance as they are capable of enjoying
that rs much is to be done for them as thci
condition will allow. What are these ar
gumcnts? They are the arguments tha
kings have made for enslavln. the people il
ali ages of tho world. You will find tha
all the arguments in favor Of kingcraft wer,
of this class; they always bestrode the neck.
of the people, not that they wanted to dol
but because the people We're better OF fol
being ridden. That is their argument ant
| this argument of the Judge is the same Ole
serpent that saws you work and eat, you
toll and l will enjoy the fruits of it. Turn
it whatever way you will-whether it come
from the mouth of King, an excuse fol
enslaving the people of his country or from
the mouth of men Of one race ms u reasOt
for enslaving the men of another race it is
| all the same old serpent, and hold if that
course OF augmentation that is made foI
the purpose Of convincing the public mind
that We should not care about this, should
be granted, it does not stop with the negro
should like to know if taking this Ole
Declaration Of Independence, which declares
that all men are equal upon principle, and
making exceptions to it where will it stop
Ii one man says it does not mean Il negro
why may not another say it does not NEAR
some other man? If that declaration is moi
the truth let us get the Statute book in which
we find it and tear it out! Who is so bold
rs to doit! [Voices-'sme," 'sno one,'
&c.1 If it is not true let us tear it out =
[cries OF "no, no,"] let us stick to it ther
lchcers] let US stand firmly by it then Zap
plausc.] .'...... -.
1t may be urged that there are certain
conditions that make necessities and impose
them upon US, and to the extent that Il ne.
cessity is imposed upon man he must sub.
nit to it. | think that was the condt ton il
which we found ourselves when We cstab.
lishcd this government. We had slavery
among us, We could not get our constitution
unless VIC permitted thep to rcman in slave.
ry, We could not secure the good we did Sc.
cure If VIC grasped for more, and having by
necessity submitted to that much, it Goes moi
destroy the princi pie that is the charter OF
our liberties. Let that charter stand rs our
standard.
My friend has said to me that am a poor
hand to quote Scripture. l will try it again
however. 1t is said in one of the admoni-
tions of the Lord, 'As your Father in heav-
en- is perfect, be ye also perfect.'' The
Saviour, suppose, did not expect that any
human creature could be perfect as the
Father in Heaven; but lie said, "As your
Father in Heaven is perfect, be ye also per-
fect."- He set that up as a standard, and he
who did most towards aching that standard
attained the highest degre, of moral pcrfec-
tion. SO say in relation to the principle
that all men are created equal, let it be as
nearly reached rs We can. If We cannot
give freedom to every creature, lei us do
nothing that will impose slavery upon anv
other creature. [Applause.] Let us then
turn this government. back into the channel
in which the trainers of the Constitution
originally placed it. Let US stand by each
other. If we do not do so we are turning
in the contrary direction, that our friend
"agS& n}29YaG in 5Ra jfn jffntt5"naaly ntt5 aAl
this one universal Slave Nation. IA voice
''that is SOL lie is one that runs in that
direction, and as such resist him.
My friends. have detained you about as
long rs desired to do, and have only to
say, let US discard all this quibbling about
this man and the other man-this race and
that race and the other race being inferior,
and therefore they must be placed in an
inferior misunderstanding our standard
that We have left US. Let US discard alt
these. things, and unite rs one people
throughout this land. until we shall once
more stand up declaring that all men are
created equal. a..
My friends, could not without launching
off upon somcuew topic, which would dc,ain
you too long, continue tonight. [Cries Of
''go on."1 THANK you for this most ex-
tensive audience that you have furnished
me tonight. i leave you, hoping that the
lamp of liberty will burn in your bosoms
until there shall no longer be a doubt that
ali men are created free and equal.
Mr.. Lincolnretired amid perfect torrent
of applause and cheers.