Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1860-06-01

Honeet old Abe on tho differing Gene
ernIlties OF the Declaration OF Inde-
pendenco.
The following eloquent tribute to the
Declaration Of Independence is taken from
one Of tho speeches Of the Hon. Abraham
Lincoln, made during his exciting and gal
LIANT contest for the Senatorship in 1858:
These communities (the thirteen colo
nics) by their Representatives in old Inde-
pendcnce Hail. said to the world Of men /:
awe hold these truths to be self-evident,
that all men are born equal; that they arc
endowed by their Creator with inalienable
rights; that among these are life, liberty,
and the pursuit Of happiness" This was
their majestic Interpretation of tho econo-
my Of the universe. This was their lofty
and wise and noble understanding Of the
Justice Of the Creator to His creatures
Yes, gentlemen, to all His creatures, to the
whole great family Of man. In their en-
lightcned 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
furthcst posterity. They created beacon
to guide their children and their children's
children, and the countless myriads who
should lnhabit the earth in other ages
Wise statesmen as they were, they knew
the tendency of prosperity TO breed tyrants,
and so they established these great selfevi-
dent 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 men, or none
but Anglo-Saxon white men, we're entitled
to life, liberty, and the pursuit Of happi-
ness, their posterity might look up again to
the Declaration of Independence, and take
courage to rcnew the battle which their fa-
theirs began, so that truth, justice, and mer-
cy and all the humane and Christian vir-
tues, might not be extinguished from the
land; so that no man would hereafter dare
to limit and circumscribe the great princi-
pies on which the temple of liberty was be-
ing built.
Now, my countrymen, if you have been
taught doctrines conflicting with the great
landmarks of the Declaration of Independ-
ence; if you have listened to suggestions
which would take away from its grandeur,
and mutilate the fair symmetry of its pro
portions; if you have been inclined to be-
leve that all men are not created equal in
those inalienable rights enumerated by our
chart of liberty, let me intreat you to come
back-return to the fountain, whose waters
spring close by the blood Of tho Revolu-
ton. Think nothing of me-take no thought
for the political fate of any man whomso
ever-but como back to the truths that arc
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 in
difference to earthly honors, l do claim tc
be actuated in this contest by something
higher than any anxiety for Office. charge
you 10 drop every paltry and insignificant
thought for any mans success. 1t is moth
ing; am nothing; Judge Douglas is moth
ing. But do not destroy that immorta
emblem of humanity-the Declaration o
american Independence.