Year: 1866

selves? Will you resort to an arbitrary
power, and say that a majority of the


people shall receive state of things they


are opposed to?


Mr.. Douglas-"That was said before


the war ?"


The President-I am now talking


about a principle, not what somebody


said"


Mr.. Downing-"Apply what you have
said, Mr.. President, to South Carolina,
| for instance"


The President-Suppose you go to
South Carolina or to Ohio; that does not
change the principle at all. The ques-
| ton to which have referred still comes
up. When our Government is undergo
ing a fundamental change of govern
ment, commenced upon this principle,
and has existed upon it, now you propose
to incorporate an element that did not
exist before in it. say the query comes
up, in undertaking this thing, whether
we have a right to make change in re-
gard to the elective franchise, in Ohio for
instance, and whether we shall not let
the people in each State decide the matter
themselves. Each community is better
prepared to determine the depository of
political power than anybody else; and
it is for the Legislature or the people of
Ohio to say who shall vote or not for the
Congress of the United States.


might 60 down here to the ballot box
tomorrow and vote directly for universal
suffrage; but if a great majority of this
people said no, should consider it would
be tyrannical and arbitrary in me to at
tempt to force it upon them without
their will. 1t is a fundamental text in
my creed that the will of the people
must be obeyed when fairly expressed.-
Is there anything wrong or unfair in
that?


Mr. Douglas, smiling-"A great deal
wrong, Mr.. President, with all respect"


The President-The people must de-
termine that for themselves. 1 do not
want to be engaged in a work that will
commence a war of races. In each COM
munity, if man shows that this new
state of affairs will operate well, he will
be protected in all rights and given eve
ry possible advantage by that communi-
ty. When they have become reconciled
socially and politically to certain things,
then will this new order of things work
harmoniously. But, forced upon the peo
pie before they are prepared for it. it will
be resisted.


1 feel a conviction that forcing that
matter upon the people will result in the
injury of both races, and the ruin of
one or the other. God knows, have no
desire but the good of the whole human
race. would it were so that all you ad- |
vocate could be done in the twinkle of
an eye. 1t is not in the nature of things, !
and l do not assume or pretend to be
wiser than Providence, or stronger than !
the laws of nature. Let US now seek |
to discover the laws governing this /
question. There is great law control |
ling it. Let US endeaVor to find out what /
that law is and conform our actions to it. /
All the details will then properly adjust
themselves and work we'll in the end
God knows that anything l can do in the |
mighty process by which the great end is 4
to be reached, anything can do to ele- !
Vate the races, to soften and ameliorate /
their condition, will do, and to be able
to do so is the sincere desire of my heart. |
am glad have met you, and thank |
you for the compliment you have paid
me-"