New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-06-30
LETTER FROM ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

From The augusta me Journal
The Republicans OF Boston celebrated Thomas Jefer-
sons Birthday on the l3,h OF April, 1859. Among
those invited TO be present was the Hon. Abraham
Ii eon who responded in letter Of great power and
of remarkable felicity of expression. We thought at
the time that Of all the political letters we had ever
read il was the most pointed and most forcbie, and
our great surprise that up to this tme 80 lar as we
have observed, it has not been republlshed After
diiQent search among some old Clippings we have
succeeded IN finding it, and with peculiar pleasure lay
il before our readers. 1t s platform in ITSELF worthy
of the indorsement of all who believe In the funda-
mental doctrines of Free Government as taught by
Thon as Jefferson. Here is the letter:
SPRINGFIELD, ILL.,, April 6, 1859.
GENTLEMEN: Your kind note, inviting me TO at
tend festival in Boston, on the 18th inst, IN honor OF
the birthday Of Thomas Jefferson was duly received
NV engagements are such that cannot attend Bear
ing In mind that about seventy years ago two great
political parties first formed in this country that
Thomas Jefferson was the head OF one OF tnenl auo
Boston the headquarters of the other is both curious
and interesting that those supposed to descend pot-
caly from the party opposed 10 Jefferson, should now
be celebrating bis birthday In their own original seat
of empire " bile those claiming political descent from
him have nearly ceased to breathe his name every
where
Remembering TOO that the Jefferson party was
formed upon ts supposed superior devotion TO the per-
sonal rights of men, hold the rights of property to
be secondary only, ard greatly inferior; and then as
Stunning that the soaed Democracy Of 70 day are the
Jefierson, and their opponents the anIiJeerson par
ties it viii be equally Interesting TO note how COM
uIeey the two have changed ground TO the principle
npon which they were originally supposed TO be
divided.
The Democracy of to-day hold the liberty of one
man 10 be absolutely nothing, when IN conflict with
another mans right of property. Republicans, on the
coptrary arr for both the man and the dollar, but in
care of conflict the before the dollar
remember being once much amused at seeing TWO
psrtiay intoxicated men engaged in fight with their
great coats on, which 6ght, after long and rather
harmless contest ended in each having fought himself
out of his own coat and into that of the other II the
two leading parties Of this day really identical with
the two in the days of Jefferson and Adams they have
reformed the same feat as the two drunken men,
But soberly, IL il childs play TO save the
principles of Jefferson from total overthrow IN TINS
nation. .
Ole would state with great confidence that he could
convince ANY zane child at the simpler propositions
of Euclid are true; but nevertheless, he would fall
with who should deny The definitions ana axioms'
The principles Of Jefferson the definitions and AK
ions Of free society. And yet they are denied and
evsded, with no small show Of success One d,shing-
ly calls them ''gittering generalt,e,s'' Another
blum ly STYLES Ibem 90 selfeyident lies. And others
insidi0nsy argue that they apply only TO I" superior
races. - . .
These expressions differing in form, identical in
object and etfect-lhe supPantine the principles Vi
free government and restoring those OF classification
cspte az d legitimacy. They would delight conyoca-
ton of crowned heads plotting against the people
They are the vanguard the appers and miners OF re-
turBiog despotism. We must repuse them, or they
will suhjugate D. :,
THIS il world of eompensasions; and he who would
be DO slaye must consent haze slave. Those who
deny freedom 70 others deserve t not for themselves
and, under inst God, cannot long retain it.
AL honor 70 Jeiierson-to the man who, IN the con-
crete pressure # struggle for national independence
BY single people had the GOODNESS, forecast, ana ca
rasiIy introduce ilo merely revolutionary docu.
Inent abstract tr.sh, applicable TO all men and all
times and 80 70 embaim there that to-day and IN all
coming days i shall be Tehukc and stumbling block
10 the harbingers Of reappeang tyranny and oppres-
sioD. Your obeGient seryanl, A. LIscOLs.
Messrs II. L. PIKnCE, and others, &c.
--TaE LIYE oY ABRAHAM LIScoLE, By an Illinois
Re,ubl;csn Sho knows well the man and bis history