The national Republican., 1861-01-22
Some Opinions of Mr.. Lincoln.

SELECTED VERBATIM FROM HIS SPEECHES, AND
PERTINENT TO THE PRESENT OCCASION.
~ say that we must not interfere with the
institution of slavery in the States where it ex-
lists, because the Constitution forbids it, and the
general welfare does not require us to do so.
We must not withhold an efficient fugitive slave
law, because the Constitution requires us, as
understand it, not to withhold such law. But
we must prevent the outspreading of the in.
stitution, because neither the Constitution nor
the general welfare requires US to extend it.
We must prevent the revival Of the African
slave trade, and the enacting by Congress of a
Territorial slave code. We must prevent each
of these things being done by either Congress
or courts. The people Of the United States are
the rightful masters of both Congresses and
courts-not to overthrow the Constitution, but
overthrow the men who pervert the Consttu.
tion l"-Speech at Cincinnati, September Is,
1859.
al hold myself under constitutional obiga-
tions to allow the people in all the States, with.
out interference, direct or indirect, to do exact
ly as they please; and deny that have any
inclination to interfere with them, even if there
were no such constitutional obligation. l can
only say again, that am placed improperly
altogether improperly, in spite Of all that can
say-when it is insisted that l entertain any
othSI NlcWo vi pui posSo III iV Soiu W that NAV
ter (slavery r-Speech at Jonesborough, Ill.,,
Sept. l6, 1858.
"While it Slavery drives on in its state Of
progress as it is now driving, and as it has
driven for the last five years, have ventured
the opinion, and say today, that we will have
no end to the slavery agitation until it takes
one turn or the other. l do not mean that when
it takes turn toward ultimate extinction il
will be in a day, nor in a year, nor in two
years. l do not suppose that in the most peace
ful way ultimate extinction would occur in less
than a hundred years at least but that it will
occur in the best way for both races, in Gods
own good time, | have no doubt.'-Speech a
Charleston, Ill.,, Sept. ls, 1858.
"Mr. Douglass popular sovereignty, as {
principle, is simply this: If one man chooses
10 make slave of another, neither that maj
nor anybody else has right to Object
Speech at Cincinnati, Sept. II, 1859.
81 have intimated that thought the agita
tion (of slavery would not cease until crisi
should be reached and passed. have state'
in what way have thought it would be reache
and passed. We might, by arrestiug the ful
ther spread Of it, and placing it where th
fathers originally placed it, put it where tn
public mind should rest in the belief that it wa
in the course of ultimate extinction. Thus tn
ward until it shall become alike lawful in al
the States, old as well as new, North as well a
South. / entertain the opinion, upon evidenc,
sufficient TO my mind, that the fathers of this
Government placed that institution where thu
public mind did rest in the belief that it was il
the course Of ultimate extinction and when
desire to see the further spread of it arrested,
only say that desire to see that done whicl
the fathers have first done. 1t is not true tina
our fathers, as Judge Douglas assumes, mad
this Government part slave and part free. ur
derstand the sense in which he puts it-he as
sumes that slavery is rightful thing With
itself-was introduced by the trainers Of tn
Constitution. The exact truth is, that the
found the institution existing among us, an
they left it as they found it. But in maxim
the Government, they left this institution wit
many clear marks Of disapprobation upon i
They found slavery among them, and they lie
it among them because of the dithculty-th
absolute impossibility of its immediate r,
moval."-Speech at Alton, Oct. lS, 1858.
"Let me say have no prejudice against tf
Southern people. They are just what we woul
be in their situation. If slavery did not exi
among them they would not introduce it.
it did now exist among US, we should not il
stantly give it up. This believe of the masse
North and South. Doubtless there are ind
vidusls on both sides who would not hold slave
under any circumstances; and others VIII
would gladly introduce slavery anew if it wer
now out of existence. We know that som
Southern men do free their slaves, go Nortl
and become tip-top aboitioniSts while som
Northern ones go South, and become most cru,
slave masters.
"When Southern people tell us they are n
more responsible for the origin of slavery tina
we are, | acknowledge the fact. When it
said that the institution exists, and that it
very difficult to get rid of it in any satisfactol
way, can understand and appreciate the sa
ing. surely will not blame them for not d
ing what | should not know how to do myse
If all earthly power were given me, shou
not know what to do, as to the existing instit
tion. My first impulse would be to free all Ii
slaves, and send them to Liberia-to their ow
native land But moments reflection wou