The national Republican., 1861-01-26
Some Opinions of Mr.. Lincoln.


PERTINENT TO THE PRESENT OCCASION.
al say that we must not interfere with the
institution of slavery in the States where it ex.
ists 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 out-spreading 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 Constitu.
tion l"-Speech at Cincinnati, September ls,
1859.
al hold myself under constitutional obliga-
tons 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
say-when it is insisted that entertain any
other views or purposes in regard to that mat
ter (slavery. y.)"-Speech at Jonesborough, Ill.,,
Sept. l6, 1858.
awhile 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. do not mean that when
it takes a 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, l have no doubt."-Speech at
Charleston, H., 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 at Cincinnati, Sept. II, 1859.
~ have intimated that thought the agita.
tion (of slavery would not cease until crisis
should be reached and passed. l have stated
in what way have thought it would be reached
and passed. We might, by arrestihg 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 well as new, North as well 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 1t 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
itself-wss introduced by the trainers of the
Constitution. The exact truth is, that they
found the institution existing among us, and
they left it as they found it. But in making
the Government, they left this institution with
They found slavery among them, and they lef
it among them because of the dificulty-tht
absolute impossibility Of its immediate re
movsl."-Speech al Alton, Oct. Is, 1858.
"Let me say have no prejudice against tn,
Southern people. They are just what we woulc
be in their situation. If slavery did not exis
among them they would not introduce it. l
it did now exist among US, we should not in
stantly give it up. This believe of the masses
North and South. Doubtless there are indi
viduals on both sides who would not hold slave
under any circumstances; and others whc
would gladly introduce slavery anew if it wer'
now out Of existence. We know that som,
Southern men do free their slaves, go North
and become up-top aboltionists; while som,
Northern ones 60 South, and become most crue
slave masters.
"When Southern people tell US they are n,
more responsible for the origin of slavery thai
we are, acknowledge the fact. When it i
said that the institution exists, and that it
very difficult to get rid of it in any satistactor
wsy, can understand and appreciate the say
ing. ] surely will not blame them for not dc
ing what should not know how to do mysel
If all earthly power were given me, shoul
not know what to do, as to the existing instit'
ton. My first impulse would be to free all tn
slaves, and send them to Liberia-to their ow
nstiya land. But moments reflection Woul