The national Republican., 1861-02-20
Some Opinions of Mr.. Lincoln.

SELECTED VERBATIM FROM HIS SPEECHES, AND
PERTINENT TO THE PRESENT OCCASION.
"I say that we must not interfere with the
institution of slavery in the States where it ex.
lists, because the Constitution forbds 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
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 Constitu.
ton l"-Speech at Cincinnati, September ls,
1859.
81 hold myself under constitutional obliga.
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. / can
only say again, that am placed improperly
altogether improperly, in spite Of all that can
saySwhen it is insisted that entertain any
other views or purposes in regard to that mat
ter (slavery. r-Speech at Jonesborough, Ill.,,
Sept. l6, 1853.
"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, I 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. I do not mean that when
it takes turn toward ultimate extinction it
will be in day, nor in year, nor in two
years. / do not suppose that in the most peace.
full way ultimate extinction would occur in less
than 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 at
Charleston Ill.,, Sept. ls, 1858.
"Mr. Douglass popular sovereignty, as
principle, is simply this If one man chooses
to make slave of another, neither that man
nor anybody else has right to Object
Speech al Cincinnati, Sept. ", 1859.
~ have intimated that thought the agita.
ton (of slavery would not cease until a crisis
should be reached and passed. ! have stated
in what way have thought it would be reached
and passed. We might by arresting the fur.
ther spread ,of it, and placing it where the
fathers originally placed it, put it where the
public mind should rest in the belief that it was
in the course of ultimate extinction. Thus the
agitation may cease. 1t may be pushed for.
ward until it shall become alike lawful in all
the States, old as we'll as new, North as we'll as
South. entertain the opinion, upon evidence
sufficient to my mind that the fathers of this
Government placed that institution where the
public mind did rest in the belief that it was in
the course of ultimate extinction; and when
desire to see the further spread Of it arrested,
only say that desire to see that done which
the fathers have first done, It is not true that
our fathers, as Judge Douglas assumes, made
this Government part slave and part free. I'm.
derstand the sense in which he puts it-he as.
sumes that slavery is rightful thing within
itsclf-was introduced by the trainers of the
Constitution. The exact truth is, that they
found the instlutipn existing among us, and
they left it as they found it. But In making
the Government they left this institution with
many clear marks of disapprebation upon it.
They found slavery among them, and they left
it among them because of the difficulty-the
absolute impossibility of its immediate re.
moval."-Speech at Alton, Oct. ls, 1858.
Z" Let me say have no prejudice against the
Southern people. They are Just what we would
be in their situation. If slavery did not exist
among them they would not introduce it. III
it did now exist among US, we should not in.
stan:ly give it up. This believe of the masses,
North and South. Doubtless there are indi.
viduals on both sides who would not hold slaves
under any circumstances; and others who
would gladly introduce slavery anew if it we're
now out of existence. We know that some
Southern men do free their slaves, go North,
and become tiptop abolitionists; while some
Northern ones 60 South, and become most cruel
slave masters.
"When Southern people tell US they are no
more responsible for the origin Of slavery than
we are, | acknowledge the fact. When it is
said that the institution exists, and that it is
very difficult to get rid Of It In any satisfactory
way, can understand and appreciate the say.
ing. ] surely will not blame them for not do.
ing what ] should not know how to do myself
If all earthly power were given me, l should
not know what to do, as to the existing institu.
ton. My first impulse would be to free all the
slaves, and send them IN I,iheria- thai o,vr