Randolph County journal. [volume] (Winchester, Randolph County, Ind.) 1855-1862, 1860-06-07
Honest Old Abe ON the Glitter
ing Gcnerniifies Of the Dccla-
ration Of Independence.

The following eloquent tribute tc
the Declaration of Independence is
taken from one Of the speeches of the
Hon. Abraham Lincoln. made during
his exciting and gallant contest for
the Senatorship in 1858:
These communities (thc thirteen
eolonies) by their representatives III
old Independence Hall, sail to the
world OF men: 1--WE hold these truths
TO lie self-evident. that all men are
born equal; that they are endowed by
their Creator with ina'ienable rights;
that among these are lie, liberty. and
the pursuit of happiness" This wa,
their Interpretation Of the economy of
the universe. This was their lofty
and wise and noble unler>tar ding of
the justice oi the Creator to his crea
lures. Yes. gentlemen, TO all His
creatures, to the whole great family
of man. In their enlightened belief,
nothing stamped with the divine i'm
aye ami likeness was sent Into the
world To be trodden on. and degraded.
! and imhruted by it's fellows. They
gra> ped not only the race OF men then
living. but they reached forward AMI
seized upcn tie iun,lest posteriiy
They created beacon to guide their
children and their childrem's children,
and the countless miriadS who should
inhabit the e-rtl in other ages. Wise
statesmen as they were. they knew
the tendency of prosperity to breei
tyrants. and so they established these
great selI-evident truths. that when il,
the distant future, some man. some
faction. some interest. should set up
the doctrine that none but rich men.
or none but white men, or none but
Anglo Saxon white men. were enti-
tied to life. liberty, and the pursuit oI
happiness. their po>terity might look
up again to the Declaration of lude
rendence. and take courage to renew
the battle which their fathers began.
so that truth. justice. and mercy, and
all the humane and Christian virtues.
might not be extinguished from the
land; 50 that no man would hereafter
dare to limit and circumscribe the
great principles on which the temple
oi 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 mutilate the
fair symmetry of it's proportions; il
you have been inclined to believe that
all men are not created equal in those
| inalicnablc rights enumerated by ouI
chart of liberty, let me entreat you to
come bark-return to the fountain
whose waters spring close by the blood
of the Revolution. Think nothing oI
me-take no thought for the political
fate of anv man whomsoever-buI
come back to the truths that are il
; the Declaration of Independence.
You may do any thing with mt
. you choose, il you will but heed the>,
sacred principles You may not only
defeat me for the Senate. but You ma,
take me and put me t. death. Will,
pretending no Indifference to earthly
honors, ] io claim To be actuated il
this contest 10y something higher thar
any anxiety for office. | charge yo,
to drop every paltry and insignificant
thought for anv mans success. it i
nothing; ! am nothing; Judge Doug
las j. nothing. BIT do not destroy tia
immortal embiem of hmmonty-M
Declaration of Imer,con Independence