The national Republican., 1861-02-05
Some Opinions of Mr.. Lincoln.

SELE6TED VERBATIM fRON 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 out.spreading Of the in.
stituton, because neither the Constitution nor
the general welfare requires lis to extend it.
We must prevent the revival Of the African
slave trade, and the enactiug 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 Consitu.
tion l"-Speech at CincinnaH September Is,
1859.
al 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 l 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. .(-Speech al JonesJorough, Ill.,,
Sept. Is, 1858.
"While it slavery drives on in its state of
progress as it ia now driving, and as it has
driven for the last five years. have ventured
the opinion, and say to-day, 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 turn toward ultimate extinction il
will be in q day, nor in q year, nor in two
i do nnt 4 hat ,,,t
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 God.
own good time, have no doubt. t.'-Speech a
Charleston, Ill.,, Sept ls, 1858.
"Mr. Douglass popular sovereignty, as
principle, is simply this If one man choose:
to make a slave'of another, neither that mar
nor anybody else has right to object y
Speech at Cincinnati, Sept. II, 1859.
al have intimated that thought the agita
ton OF slavery would not cease until q cris
should be reached and passed. | have statet
in what way have thought it would be reached
and passed. We might, by arrestng the fur
ther spread of it, and placing it where tn,
fathers originally placed it, put it where th
public mind should rest in the belief that it wa
in the course of ultimate extinction. Thus tb'
agitation may cease. 1t may be pushed for
ward until it shall become alike lawful in al
the States, old as well as new, North as well al
South. i 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 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 whic
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
itsclf-was introduced by the trainers of th
Constitution. The exact truth is, that the
fou..d 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 il
They found slavery among them, and they lei
it among them because Of the dithculty-th
absolute impossibility of its immediate re
moval."-Speech at Alton, Oct. lS, 1858.
Let me say have no prejudice against til
Southern people. They are just what we woul
be in their situation If slavery did not exis
among them they would not introduce it.
it did now exist among US, we should not il
stan.ly give it up. This believe of the masses
North and South. Doubtless there are ind
viduals 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 son,
Southern men do free their slaves, go Nortl
and become tp.top abolitonists; while som
Northern ones 90 South, and become most cru
slave masters.
"When Southern people tell US they are
more responsible for the origin OF slavery tbs
we are, l acknowledge the fact. When it
said that the institution exists, aud that it
very difficult to get rid of it in any satisiacto
way, can understand and appreciate the sa
ing. surely will not blame them for not
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 instlt
ton. My first impulse would be to free all Il
slaves, and send them to Liberia-to their ov
native land. But a moments reflection wou