The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1860-07-06
Prom the Augusta (sie.) Journal.
Letter from Abraham Lincoln.

The Republicans OF Boston celebrated Thorn
as jefferson. birthday on the 18th Of April,
1889. Among those invited to be present was
the Hon. Abraham Lincoln, who responded in
letter OF great power and of remarkable fe-
licity Of expression. We thought at the time
that OF all the political letters we had ever read,
II was the most pointed and most forcible, and
our great surprise Is that up to this time. so far
as wc have observed, it has not been re-publish-
ed. Aner diligent search among some old
"clippngs," We have succeeded In finding 1t,
and with peculiar pleasure lay It before our
readers. It Is platform In itself, worthy Of
the endorsement OF oil who believe In the fun
damental doctrines Of Free Government as
taught by Thomas Jefferson. Here is the let
ter:
SPRINGFIELD, ILL.,,
April q, 1855. )
GENTLEMEN Your kind note, inviting me
to attend festival In Boston. on the 18th inst,
was duly received. My engagements are such
that cannot attend. Bearing In mind that
seventy years ago two great political parties
were first formed in this country; that Thomas
Jefferson was the head Of one Of them, and
Boston the headquarters Of the other, II Is both
curious and interesting that those supposed to
descend politically from the party opposed to
jefferson, should now be celebrating his birth
day in their own original seat Of empire, while
those claiming political descent from him have
nearly ceased to breathe his name everywhere.
Remembering, too, that the Jefferson party
was formed upon its supposed superior deyo-
ton to the personal rights OF men, holding the
rights Of property to be secondary only, and
greatly inferior; and then assuming that the
so-calied Democracy Of to-day are the Jeffer-
son, and their opponents the anti-Jeherson par
ties, Il will be equally interesting to note how
completely the two lSse changed grounds as
~ the principle upon which they were originally
supposed to be divided.
The Democracy Of to-day hold the liberty Of
one man to be absolutely nothing, when In con-
fct with another mans right OF property
Republicans, on the contrary. are for both the
man and the dollar, but In case Of conflict, the
man before the dollar.
remember being once amused ut seeing two
partially intoxicated men engaged In fight
with their great coats on, which fight. after q
long and rather harmless contest, ended In each
having fought himself out of his own coat into
that of the other. II the two leading parties
of this day arc really identical with the two In
the days Of Jefferson and adams, they have
performed the same feat as the two drunken
men.
But soberly, Il Is now no child's play to save
the principles Of Jefferson from total overthrow
In this nation.
he could convince any sane child that the sim
pier propositions OF Euclid are true; but new
crtheless, he would fail. with one who should
deny the definitions and axioms. The princi-
Piles of Jefferson are the definitions and aIiOms
Of free society. And yet they are denied and
eraded, with no small show OF success. One
dashingly calls them "glttering generaliiies."
Another bluntly styles them "self-evident lies.
And others in,diously argue that they apply
The expressions. differing In form, are iden-
teal in object and effect-the supplanting the
principles Of free government, and restoring
those Of classification, caste and legitimacy.
They would delight conyocation Of crowned
heads plotting against the people. They are
the vanguard, the sappers and miners, OF re-
turning despotism. We must rspulse them, or
they will subjugate us.
This Is world of compensation; and he who
would BE- no slave must consent to haze no slave.
Those who deny freedom to others deserve u
not for themselves; and, under Just God,
cannot long retain u.
the concrete pressure Of struggle for national
Independence by single people, had the cool
ness, forecast, and capacity to introduce into
merely revolutionary document an abstract
truth. applicable to oil men and all times, and
40 10 cmbalm II there, that to-day, and In oil
coming days, II shall be rebuke and STUN
bling-6lock TO the harbingcrs Of re-appearing
tyranny and oppression.
Your obedent servant. A. LINCOLN.
Mcssrs. II. L. Pierce. and others, &c.