The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1865-03-30
SPEECH OF MR. LINCOLN.
k3is Views rs TO the ArWing of
Slaves by the Rebels.

4 rebel flag, captured at Fort Ander-
! son by the l4Oth Indiana volunteers, was
presented to Gov. Morton, in front of the
National hotel, Washington, on the 18th
inst. Gov. Morton made brief speech
IN the course OF which he congratulated
his auditors on the speedy end Of the re-
beiilon, and concluded by Introducing Mr.
Lincoln. The Presidenet addressed the
assembiage substantially as follows:
"FELLow-CITIZENs 1t will be but a
lew words that | shall undertake to sav.
| was born in Kentucky, raised in Indi-
ana. and lived III Illinois. and | am now
here, where it is nay duty TO be, to care
equally for the good people Of all tie
states. ! am glad TO see an Indiana regi-
ment, on this day able to present this cap
tured flag to the governor Of the state Of
Indiana. i an Eot disposed, ii Saving
this, to make distinction between states.
for all have done equally as well.
There are but few views or aspects Of
this great war upon which | have not said
or written something whereby my own
views might be made known. There is
one-the recent attempt Of our s'erring
brethren" as they arc sometimes called,
to employ the negro to fight for them
have neither written nor made q speech
on that subject. because that was their
business and not mine; and if they had
wish upon the subject, | had not the pow
er to introduce it or make it effective
The great question with them was whether
the negro, being put into the army, will
fight for them! [ do not know, and
therefore cannot decide. They ought to
better than We, and do know | have
in my lifetime, heard many arguments
why the negro ought to be slave, but if
they fight TO: those who would keep them
in slavery, it would be a better argument
than any have Yet heard. lie who will
fight for that ught to be slave.
They have concluded at last to take
one out OF four OF their slaves and put hinl
in the army, and that one Out of four who
viii fight to keep the others in slavery
ought to be q slave himself, unless he is
killed in fight.
'While | have often said that ali men
ought to be free, yet i would allow those
coiored persons to be slaves who want to
be. and next to them, tho: white men who
argue in favor Of making other people
slaves
Il am in favor of giving an opportunity
TO such white men to try 1t on for them
selves. l VIII say one thing with regard
to the negro being employed to Gght for
them, that | do know. l know that he /
cannot fight and STAY at home aud make
bread too; and as one is about as import
ant as the other to them don't care |
which they do. | am rather in favor Of
having them try them as soldiers. They !
lack one vote of doing that. and l wish |
could send my vote over the wires, so that
[ might cast it in favor of allowin the
negro to fight. But they cannot fight
and work both. We must now see the
bottom of the enemy's resources.
They will stand out as longas they can,
and if the negro Will fight for them, they
must allow him to fight. They have drawn
upon their last branch Of resources, and
we can now see the bottom / am glad
20 see the end so near at hand.
Il have said now more than | intended
10, and will, therefore, bid you good by"
The president then retired.