The national Republican., 1860-12-29
Some Opinions of Mr.. Lincoln.

PERTINENT TO THE PRESENT OCCASION.
81 say that we must not interfere with the
institution of slavery in the States where it ex-
lists, because the Constitution forbids it, and the
general welfare does not require us to do so.
We must not withhold an efficient fugitive slave
law, because the Constitution requires us, as ]
understand it, not to withhold such law. But
we must prevent the out.spreading of the in
stitution, because neither the Constitution nor
the general welfare requires US to extend it.
We must prevent the revival Of the African
slave trade, and the enactng by Congress OF
Territorial slave code. We must prevent each
of these things being done by either Congress
or courts. The people Of the United States are
the rightful masters of both Congresses and
courts-not to overthrow the Constitution, but
overthrow the men who pervert the Constitu.
ton l"-Speech at Cincinnati, September Is,
1859.
Al hold myself under constitutional obliga-
tons to allow the people in all the States, with.
out interference direct or indirect, to do exact.
| ly as they please; and deny that have any
inclination to interfere with them, even if there
were no such constitutional obligation. l can
only say again, that am placed improperly
altogether Improperly, in spite of all that / can
say-when it is insisted that l entertain any
other views or purposes in regard to that mat
ter slavery. .C'-Spcech al Jonesborough, Ill.,,
Sept. l6, 1858.
"While it Slavery drives on in its state of
progress as it is now driving, and as it has
driven for the last five years, have ventured
the opinion, and say to-day, that we will have
no end to the slavery agitation until it takes
one turn or the other. do not mean that when
it takes turn toward ultimate extinction it
will be in day, nor in year, nor in two
| I 4 hot ,p tha
tul way ultimate extinction would occur in less
than a hundred years at least but that it will
occur in the best way for both races, in Gods
own good time have no doubt."-Speech al
Charleston, Ill.,, Sept ls, 1858.
"Mr Douglass popular sovereignty, as a
principle, is simply this: If one man chooses
nor anybody else has a right to Object
Speech at Cincinnati, Sept. II, 1859.
81 have intimated that thought the agita
ton (of slavery would not cease until a crisis
should be reached and passed. l have stated
in what way have thought it would be reached
and passed. We might, by arresting the fur
ther spread of it, and placing it where the
fathers originally placed it, put it where the
public mind should rest in the belief that it was
in the course of ultimate extinction. Thus the
agitation may cease. 1t may be pushed for
ward until it shall become alike lawful in all
the States, old as well as new, North as well as
South. | entertain the opinion, upon evidence
sufficient to my mind that the fathers Of this
Government placed that institution where til,
public mind did rest in the belief that it was il
. the course of ultimate extinction and when
desire to see the further spread of it arrested,
only say that l desire to see that done whicl
the fathers have first done. 1t is not true tha
our fathers, as Judge Douglas assumes, mad
this Government part slave and part free. Un
q, derstand the sense in which he puts it-he as
sumes that slavery is rightful thing With
itsclf-was introduced by the trainers of tn
Constitution. The exact truth is, that the
: found the institution existing among u.s. an
they left it as they found it. But in maxim
= the Government, they left this institution wit
many clear marks of disapprobation upon i
: They found slavery among them, and they le
it among them because of the ditliculty-th
absolute impossibility of its immediate r,
= moval."-ISpeech al Alton, Oct. l8, 1858.
Let me say have no prejudice against tn
), Southern people. They are just what we woul
" be in their situation. If slavery did not exi
u among them they would not introduce it.
= it did now exist among us, we should not il
g stan.ly give it up. This believe of the masse
North and South. Doubtless there are ind
viduals on both sides who would not hold slav,
under any circumstances; and others wi
would gladly introduce slavery anew if it we
now out of existence. We know that son
s. Southern men do free their slaves, go Mort
s. and become tip-top abolitonsts; while son
y. Northern ones go South, and become most cru
- slave masters.
II "When Southern people tell US they are
. more responsible for the origin of slavery thu
,e we are, acknowledge the fact When it
At said that the institution exists, and that it
ID very difficult to get rid of it in any satslacto
way, can understand and appreciate the sa
ing. ! surely will not blame them for not d
- ing what should not know how to do myse
If all earthly power were given me, shou
not know what to do as to the existing instit
ton. Ny first impulse would be to free all t
slayes and send them to Liberia-to their oy