Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1860-11-22
MR LINCoLNS RECORD ON THE SLAVERY CUES
TION

dispatch from Springfield Illinois, dated Saturday
Mr.. Lincoln remarked Today 10 visitor in regard tC
an expected public definition of his policy in advance
his inaugural follows "Dtriag the last siT years
hare placed mn vie,us on all public questions full
and frequently on record that al those desiring car
learn them 5y simply referring 10 them. II my past as
serions obtain no credit present ones H be treated nt
| better"
Mr. Lincoln is right here A mans past history make:
his ehardeer-and By that past therefore, he is to be
uiged-and not by his professions as TO the future
With this declaration from Springfield thenin the pre-
sent excited state of the country it becomes matter Of
the first Importance to ascertain exactly what Mr.. Lin
coins views the Slavery question really are, in order
that may judge how far the apprehensions Of the
South are justified. We quote them:
Fr1m Horeifs LiJe Of Lincoln, page pa.
"What do is that no man Is good enough to gov
ern another man, ioiiot The Others eonseu say this
is the leading principle the SHEET ANCHOR oi Amtr-
lean Rspubticanis. Our Declaration Of Independence
says:
ave hold these truths to be selfevdent- that al
are er,atsd egga that they eneo led by their C'
with certain inaienable rights that among these
life, LIBERTY al the pursuit Of happiu6ss. That to
these rights governments are instituted among
men, DERIVING THEIR JUST POWER FRON CONSENT oP
| THE GOVERNED"
81 have quoted much at this time merely TO show
that according ancient faith the powers OF Gov
ernmen derived from the of the governed
Now the relation of master and slave is, pro tdo,
total pioid,ion IF this principle The master not only
governs the slave without his consent but he governs
him by set of rules altogether different from those which
he prescrbes for himself Allow ALL the governed M
EQUAL VOICE IN THE GOVERNMENT; and that,
and that only, is Speech at Peoria,
Qi) Oct. 10, 1854
II this means anything it means negro equality, it
emancipation As this Peoria speech part and
parcel OF Mr. Lncons past" record which he refers
all who anxious TO know how he stands to-day on
the great question which is agtaiing the country, one
scarcely wonder that he South should be uneasy
nervous, frightened.
Two years later, find Mr.. Lincoln developing the
above idea boldly in other words, declaring
himself in favor Of the abolition Of slavery
From Debates bstaeen Lincoln and Douglas, page lSt
1--WE are far into the fifth year since policy was
initiated with the ayowed object and corien promise
of putting end TO slavery agitation. Under the ope
ration of that policy that agitation has not only ceased
but has constantly augmented ln my opinion it will Btt
until crisis shall have been reached aud passet
n house divided against itself cannot stand te
ieve this Government CANNOT ENDURE PERMANENTLY hall
slave ard half free. do not expect the Union to be
dissolved; do not expect the house 10 fall but do
expect it will 10 Be divided Ii will become all
thing all the oth'r Either the opponents of slave
ry will arrest the further pead Of IT, and place It where
the public mind shall rest in the belief that it is in the
will push il forward till il shall become alike lawful in all
the States old as well as uew North well South
Speech at Springfield, III, June l7h, 1858.
Three months later still--we have him Gvowng him
self negro equality man, without any of the quaica
lions DISCUSSES which distinguish his earlier admis
sious 1--WE quote from the Illinois State journal lead
ing Republican organ, Sept lG, 1869
"That central idea In political system, (said Mr..
Lncoln at the beginning was, and until recently con-
tinued to be the equality Of men, And although was
always submitted patiently to whatever inequality there
seemed be matter Of actual necessity, its con-
working has been n steady towards the
PRACTICAL EQUALITY or ALL MES.
"In what have done cannot claim to have acted
from any peculiar consideration Of the colorcd people
separate and dstHct class 10 the community but from
the simple conviction that all the individuals of that
class members of the community and, in virtue OF
their manhood, entitled 10 EVERY ORIGINAL RIGHT
ENJOYED By ANY OTHER MEMBER We feel, there
fore, tba. all LEGAL DISTINCTION between indivdu-
ais Of the community founded in any such circum
stances Color origin, and the like hostile TO the
genius Of institutions, and incompatible with the
true history Of American liberty. SLAVERY and OPP
preston must CEASE american liberty must perish
I'm Massachusetts,, and in most If not ALL the New
England States the colored and the white abso
lutely equal before the law.
I'm New York the coored man is restricted as to the
right of suffrage by property qualification In other re-
spects the same equality prevails.
81 embrace with pleasure this opportunity Of declaring
MY DISAPPR0BArI0N Of that clause ofthe ConstitU-
tion chch denies 10 portion of ~ eOlOred people tie
right of suffrage.
True Democracy makes no inquiry about the color Of
ne skin or place of nativity any other similar cir
OF condition. regard therefore, the ExcLU
SION Of The eoiored people body from the elective
franchise as INCOMPATIBLE Wih true Democratic
principles"
Enough for to-day. Anon, may have to write the
record obedienty to the suggestion of the President
elect that "those desiring knoS his views public
questions learn them from his past" There mil
hons and millions Of those who anxious to know all
about that past and at coujuncture like this in the
affairs of the country full OF alarm and apprehension,
not that it is not the duty of the fearless and
paui)lic journalist to enghten them.-N Y Express.