New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-05-28
MIR. LINCOLN,s OPINIONS.

MIR. LlNCOLN'S OP1N1cNS.
A correspondent writes to us to inquire what
are Mr.. Lincoln's opinions concerning the Fugitive
Slave Law and the Admission of New Slave States.
| We are able to answer the question without diff
| fculty. In the discussion between Mr.. Lincoln
| and Judge Douglas at Freeport, ILL.,. on Aug. q,
1855 the former took up one by one, and answered
series of nterrogatories relating to all the va
rous points of the Slavery question, and, to leave
| nothing ambiguous or doubtful, made some adj
| ditional explanations upon some of them. This
part of Mr.. Lincoln's speech, delivered on that
| occasion, is as follows:
"Question /. Il desire 10 know whether Lincoln to-
day stands he did in 1854, in favor of the uncond
tional repeal of the Fugitive Slave law 2
"Answer. do not now, nor ever did, stand in favor
of the unconditional repeal of the Fugitive Slaw law
90. 2. / desire him to answer whether he stands
pledged today he did in 1854 against the admission
of any more Slave States into the Union even if the
people want them
"a. | do not now, nor ever did stand pledged
against the admission of any more Slave States into
the Union.
90. 3. Il want to know whether he stands pledged
against the admission of new State into the Union
with such Constitution the people of that State
may see fit TO make 2
"A. do not stand pledged against the admission
of new State into the Union with such Constitution
as the people OF that State may see fit to make.
40. 4. | want to know whether he stands to-day
pledged to the abolition Of Slavery in the District Of
Columbia
"a. | do not stand to-day pledged to the abolition of
Slavery in the District of Columbia
a : ii, 1t, ba ia
pledged to the prohibition of the saverade between
the different States!
"a. do not stand pledged to the prohibition of the
save-trade between the different States.
90. g. Idesire to know whether he stands pledged
prohibit Slavery in all the Territories of the United
States north az well as south Of the Missouri COmpro-
mise line p?
a. am implicitly, if not expressly pledged to
belief in the right and duty of Congress to prohibit
Slavery in all the United States Territories.
90. Z. | desire him to answer whether he is OPP
posed to the acquisition of any Territory unless
Slavery is first prohibited therein 2
a. am not generally opposed TO any honest ac-
QUESTION of Territory and in any given ease, would
or would not oppose such acquisition, accordingly as
| might think such acquisition would would not
| aggravate the Slavery question among ourselves.
| NOW, my Ifiehusi IL VIII De pcfcelNeu, upon un
examination Of these questions and answers, that so
far have only answered that | was not pledged to
this that or the other The Judge has not framed bis
| interrogaor,s to ask me anything more than this
| and have answered in strict accordance with the
| mterrogatores, and have answered truly that / am
not pledged at all upon any of the points to which l
have answered. But am not disposed to hang upon
the exact form Of his nterrogatory. am rather dis
| .J Of haze
state what really think upon them.
AS to the first one in regard to the Fugitive Slave
law, have hesitated to say, and do not now
hesitate say, that think, under the Constitution of
the United States the people of Southern States are
| entitled to Congressional Fugitive Slave law.
Having said that have had nothing TO say in regard
to the existing Fugitive Slave law further than that
think shond have been framed so as be free from
some of the objections that pertain to it, without les
sening its efficiency. And nasmuch as we are not
now in agitation in regard to an alteration modi-
lcation of that law, would Iot be the man to intro
dute it a subject of agitation upon the general
question of Slavery.
In regard TO the other question, of whether | am
pledged to the admission of any Slave States into
the Union, state to you very frankly that would be
exceedingly sorry to be put in apostion of having
to PASS upon that question. | should be exceedingly
glad to know that there would never be another Slave
State admitted into the Union; but must add that if
Slavery shall be kept out of the Territories during the
territorial existence of any one given Territory, and
then the people SHALL having fair chance and clear
field when they come TO adopt their Constitution, do
such an extraordinary thing to adopt Slave Con-
stitutn unnhuenced by the actual presence of the n
ttiiution among them, ! see no alternative if own
the country but to admit them into the Union.
The third nterogatory it answeredby the answer
to the second il being, conceive the same tie the
econd.
"The fourth one is in regard to the abolition Of
Slavery in the District Of Columbia. In relation 80
that, have my mind very distinctly made up |
should be exceedingly glad Slavery abolished in
| the District of Columbia. | believe that Congress
possesses the constitutional power to abolish it, Yet
us member Of Congress- should not, with my pres.