Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-05-22

THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
The following eloquent tribute to the Declara-
ton of Independence is taken from one of the
speeches of Hon. Abraham Lincoln, made dur.
ing his exciting and gallant contest for the sen.
atorship in 1861
These communities 1.-THE thirteen colonies)
by their representatives in old Independence
Hall, said to the whole world of men, 1--WE
hold these truths to be selfevident; that all
men are created equal; that they are endowed
by their Creator with inalienable rights that
among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit
of happiness" This was their majestic inter-
probation of the economy of the universe. This
was their lofty, and wise, and noble under
standing of the justice of the Creator to His
creatures. Yes gentlemen, to all his crea-
lures, 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
imbruted by its fellows. They grasped not
only the race of men then living, but they
reached forward and seized upon the farthest
posterity. They erected beacon to guide
their children and their children's children,
and the countless myriads who should inhabit
the earth in other ages. Wise statesmen as
they were, they knew the tendency of prosper.
ity to breed tyrants, and so they established
these great selfevident truths, 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 mep, or
none but Anglo-Saxon white men, were enti-
tied to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happi
ness, their posterity might look up again to
the Declaration of Independence, and take
courage to renew the battle which their faith.
ers began-so that truth, and justice, and mer.
| cy, and all the humane and Christian virtues
might not be extinguished from the land so
that no man would hereafter dare to limit and
circumscribe the great principles on which the
temple Of liberty was being built.
| Now, my countrymen, 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 mutt
late the fair symmetry OF its proportions if
| you have been inclined to believe that all men
are not created equal in those inalienabe rights
enumerated by our chart of liberty, let me en-
| treat you to come back-return to the fountein
whose waters spring close by the blood of the
Revolution. Think nothing of me-take no
thought for the political fate of any man
whomsoever-butc come back to the truths that
are in the Declaration of Independence.
You may do anything 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 pretending no Indifference to earthly
honors, do claim TO be actuated in this contest
by something higher than an anxiety for of
flee. charge you to drop every paltry and
insignificant thought for any mans success.
1t is nothing l am nothing; Judge Douglas
is nothing. But do not destroy that immortal
emblem Of humanity-the Declaration Of amer
ican Independence.