Litchfield enquirer., 1858-09-02

eH The following eloquent apostrophe to the Dec iaration of Independence, was uttered by Mr. Lds- COIN, in one of his speeches during the present exc- ting canvass in Illinois in reply to Senator Douglas z. " These communities (the thirteen colonies) by ieir representatives in old Independence Hall said to the whole world of men We hold these truths to be selfevident: that all are created equal that they are endowed by their Creator with certain malienable rights; that among these are life liber- ty and the pursuit of happiness This was their majestic interpretation of the economy of the Uni verse. This was their ofty and wise and noble un- derstanding of the justice of the Creator to His lures. Applause. Yes, gentlemen, to aU His crea tures to the whole great family of man. In their enlightened belief, nothing stamped with the Divine image and likeness was sent into the world to be trodden on. and degraded and imbrutcd by it's fel- lows. They grasped not only the whole race of men then living, but they reached forward and seized upon the farthest posterity They erected beacon t0 guide their children and their childrens children and the countless inyriads who should inhabit the earth in other ages. Wise statesmen as they were they knew the tendency of prosperity to breed ty- rants and so they established these great self evi dent truths that when in the distant future some man, some faction. some interest, should set up the doctrine that none but rich men, none but white men. or none but Anglo-Saxon white men, were en- titled to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness their postefify might look up again to the Declara- ton of latepeadenees ad courage to renew the battle which their fathers beganso that truth and
  ian virtues might not be extingushed from the land so that nn man would hereafter dare to limit and circumscribe the great principles which the tenn pie of liberty was being built [Tond cheers. Now, my countrymen, (Mr Lincoln continued with great earnestness,l if you have been taught doctrines conflicting with the great landmarks of the Declaration of Independence if you have listened to suggestions which would take away from its grandeur, and mutiate the fair symmetry of its pro- portions; if you have been inclined to believe that all men are not created equal in those inalienabe rights enumerated by charter of liberty. let me entreat yon to come back Return to the fountain whose waters spring close by the blood of the revo- lution. Think nothing of me-take no thought for the political fate of any whomsoever-but come hack to the truths that are in the Declaration of In dependence. Ton may do any thing with me you choose if you will but heed these sacred principles You may not only defeat me for the Senate but you may take me and put me to death. While pretend ing no indifference to earthly honors do cai.n to be actuaed in this contest by something higher than m anxiety for office. I charge you to drop every paltry and insignificant thought for any mans sue. cess, It is nothing am nothing Judge Douglas K nothing But do not destroy Aat immortal emblem o Uamaaity -the Declraion of American Independence"