Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1860-06-21
Lincoln's Eulogy on The Decrala.

The following eloquent tribute to the
Declaration of Independence is taken from
one Of the speeches os the Hon. Abraham
Lincoln, made during his exciting and gal
Ian, contest fo- the Sendtotship in 1858:
These communities (the thirteen colon.
ies) by their representatives in old Indepen
dence Hall, said to the world Of men: "We
hold these truths to be selfevident, that II
me +, are b,r elu l;tha, they are endowed,by
their Creator with inaI;enable rights
among these are life, liberty, and the pur.
suit of happiness" This was their majestic
interpretation Of the economy Of the uni
verse. This was theit lofty, and wise and
noble understanding of the Justice of the
Creator, to his creatures, to the whole great
family Of man. In their enlightened belief.
nnthi, stamped with the Divine image and
likeness was sc ut to be trodden on, and de-
graded, and itnbruted by its fellows. They
prasppd not only the face Of men then living,
but they reached forward and seized upon
the furlhest posterity. They created a bea-
con to guide their children and their child
ren's children, and The countless rhayrad1
who should inhahit the earth in Other dges.
Wise statesman as they were, they knew
the tendency Of posperity to breed tyrants
and 30 they established these great self evi.
dent t,uhs that when, in the distant future
some man, some faction, some Interest,
should set up the doctrine that none but
rich men, or none but white or none but
Anglo Saxon white men, were entitled to
life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness
their polterity might look up again to the
DEGRADATION of Independence. nnd take cour
age to renew the battle which their fathers
began so that truth, and justice, and mercy
and al the humane and Christian virtues
might not be extinguished from the land; 81
that no man would hereafter dare to limi
and circumscrbe the grent principles OF
which the temple Of liberty was beirg built
Now, my counirymrn If you had bse'
!, taught doctrines conflicting with the grea
landmarks Of the Declaration Of 1ndepen
dence If you have listened to suggestion
which would take away from its grandeur
and mutilate the fair symmetry OF its pro
portions; if you have been inclined to be
y lieve that all men are not created equal |
| tHOst 'iBuNS " -"
chart Of liberty, let me entreat you to com
y y back-return to the fountain, whose water
spring close BY the blood Of the Revolution
= Think nothing Of me--take no thouIht ft
9 the political fate OF any man whomsoevt
g. but come back to the truths that are |
u the DEGRADATION of lnde pendence.
It You may do anything with me you chos'
1t II you can but heed these sacred principle
t, You may not only defeat me for the Senat
= but you NAV take me and put me to deaf
g. While pretending no indifference to earth
honors, I do claim to be actuated in this col
test by something higher than anxisty Il
Office. charge you to drop every spaltl
|. and Insignificant thought for any mans sui
ID cess. II il nothing; am nothing; Judl
h Douglas lis nothing. But do not dsstr'
u, that immortal emblem Of hamanity-he De-
y ralation Of Independence.