The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1908-03-12
Friend. Advise Against Speech.

them also.
Friends Advise Asains, Speech.
About dozen gentlemen were called
to meet In the library room In the
statehouse. "After seating them at
the round table" says John Arm.
strong, one OF the number, 'he read
that clause or section of his speech
which reads, "A house divided against
itself cannot stand etc. He read It
slowly and cautiously, SO as to let each
man fully understand It. After he
had finished the reading he asked the
opinions Of his friends as to the wis
dom or policy Of It, Every man among
them condemned the speech In sub
stance and spirit and especially that
section quoted above. They unani.
mously declared that the whole speech
was too far In advance Of the times,
and they all condemned that section
or part Of his speech already quoted
as unwlse and lmpolltlc, IL not false.
William H. Herndon sat still while
they were giving their respective opin-
Ions of its unwisdom and impolIcy.
Then be sprang to his feet and said:
Lincoln, deliver It just as It reads
II It Is In advance OF the times let us
you and !, II no one else-llft the
people to the level OF this speech now,
higher hereafter. The speech Is true,
wise and polite and will succeed now
or In the future. Nay, 1t will aid you,
II II viii not make you president OF the
United States
"Mr. Lincoln sat still n short mo-
ment, rose from his chair. walked
backward and forward In the hall,
stopped and said: Friends, have
thought about this matter great deal,
nave weighed the question well from
al corners and am thoroughly conyinc.
I'd the time has come when II should
be uttered, and II II must be that
must 60 down because OF this speech,
then let me go down linked TO truth
die in the advocacy OF what is right
and just. This nation cannot live on
injustice house divided against 1t.
self cannot stand" say again and
again. This was spoken with some
degree Of emotion 1.-The effects OF his
love of truth and sorrow from the dis
agreement OF his friends with him.
self"
Speech That Made Lincoln.
On the evening OF the 18th this cele.
brated speech-known since as 'the
house divided against itself speech
was delivered 10 an immense audience
In the hall Of the house OF representa-.
tives. Mr.. Lincoln never penned
words which had more prodlgious in
fuence upon the public mind or which
more directly and powerfully affected
hts own career. IL was as follows
Gentlemen OF the conyention-lf we
could first know where we are and
whittier we are tending we could then
better Judge what 10 do and how TO do
IL We are now far on into the fifth
year since policy was initiated with
the ayowed object and confident prom.
Use Of putting an end TO slavery agita-
tIon Under the operation OF that poll
cy that agitation has not only not
ceased. but has constantly augmented.
In my opinion. II will not cease until
a crisis shall have been reached and
passed "A house divided against H.
self cannot stand | believe this gov
eminent cannot endure permanently
half slave and half free. do not ex'
pect the Union 10 he dissolved. do
not expect the house 10 fall. but do
expect Il viii cease TO he divided II
VIII become all one thing or all the
other Either the opponents Of slavery
Will arrest the further spread OF II aud
place Il where the pnbllc mind shall
rest IN the belief that II Is IN course o.
ultimate extinction or It's advocates
VIII push II forward TIL II shall be
come alike lawful In all the states
old as well as new. north as well as
sonth
Have We no tendency TO the latter
condition. Let ans one who doubts
carefully contemplate that now almost
complete legal combination piece OF
machinery. SO 30 speak compounds
OF the Nebraska doctrine and the Dred
Scott decision let him consider not
only Shai work the machinery Is
adapted 10 do and bow well adapted.
but aho let him study the history Of
lis construction and trace. II be can. Or.
rs's0. fsil, ~ be can. 10 trace, the egi.