Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1858-09-03

MR. LINCOLN on TIE DECLARATION. The
following grand and eloquent tribute to the
Declaration Of lndepend nee, from one of the
Hon. Abraham Lincoln's speeches, IS truly
refreshing in these times Of political dcgcncr-
acy
These communities (hc thirteen Colones)
By their Representatives in old Independence
Hall, said to the whole world of men 4" We
hold these truths to be selEcydcnt that all
mon are created equal; that they are endowed
by their Creator with certain inalicnablc
rights; that among these are life, liberty and
the pursuit Of happiness This was their
majestic Interpretation Of the economy Of the
Universe. This was their lofty, and wise,
and noble understanding of the justice of the
Creator to hls creatures. Applause, Yes,
gentlemen, to all His creatures, to the whole
great family of man. In their enlightened
belief, nothing stamped with the Divine I'M
age and likeness was sent into the world to
be trodden on, and degraded, and imbruted
by its fellows. They grasped not only the
whole race Of men then living, but they
reached forward and seized the iurthest pos
terty. They erected beacon to guide their
children and their childrens children, and
tho countless myriads who should inhabit
the earth in other ages. Wise statesmen us
they We're, they knew the tendency of pros
perity to breed tyrants, and so they establish
cd these great sclt-eyident truths, that when
in the distant future some man. some faction,
some interest, should set up the doctrine that
none but white men, or none but Anglo-Sax-
On white men, were entitled to life, liberty,
and the pursuit of happiness, their postcrity
might look up again TO the Declaration OF
Independence, and take courage to renew the
battle which their fathers begam-so that
truth and justice and mercy, and all the hui
name and christian virtues might not be cx-
tinguished f.om the land 50 that no man
would hereafter dare to limit and crcumscribe
the great principles on which the Temple of
Liberty was being built. Loud cheers.
Now, my countrymen, Mr.. Lincoln con-
tinued with great earnestness,l you have
been taught doctrines conflicting with the
great landmarks of the Declaration of hide
pendencc ; if you have listened to suggestions
which would take away from its grandeur
and mutilatc the fair symmetry of its proper
tions; If you have been inclined to believe
that all men are not created equal in those
inalienable rights enumerated by our chart of
liberty, let Inc entreat you to come back. Re-
turn TO the fountain whose waters spring
close by the blood of the Revolution. Think
nothing of me-take no thought for tho po-
litical fate of any man whomsoever-bu come
back to the truths that are III the Declaration
of Independence. You may do any thing
with me that 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 pre-
tending no indifference to earthly honors,
do clam to be actuatcd in this contest by
something higher than an anxiety for office
charge you to drop every paltry and insig-
niiicant thought for any man S success. 1t is
nothing; | am nothing Judge Douglas is
nothing. But do not DESTROY that immortal
emblcm Of Humdnity-the Declaration Of hide
pendence.