I TRUST I understand and truly estimate the right of self-government. My faith in the proposition that each man should do precisely as he pleases with all which is exclusively his own, lies at the foundation of the sense of justice there is in me. I extend the principle to communities of men as well as individuals. I so extend it because it is politically wise and well as naturally just; politically wise in saving us from broils about matters which do not concern us. Here, or at Washington, I would not trouble myself with the oyster laws of Virginia, or the cranberry law of Indiana. The doctrine of self-government is right—absolutely and eternally rightbut it has no just application as here attempted. Or perhaps I should rather say that whether it has such application depends upon whether a negro is not or is a man. If he is not a man, in that case he who is a man may as a matter of self-government do just as he pleases with him. But if the negro is a man, is it not to that extent a total destruction of self-government to say that he, too, shall not govern himself? When the white man governs Selfgovernment Selfgovernment himself, that is self-government; but when he governs himself and governs another man, that is more than self-government—that is despotism. If the negro is a man, why then my ancient faith teaches me that "all men are created equal," and that there can be no moral right in connection with one man's making a slave of another. Judge Douglas frequently, with bitter irony and sarcasm, paraphases our argument by saying: "The white people of Nebraska are good enough to govern themselves, but they are not good enough to govern a few miserable negroes!" Well! I doubt not that the people of Nebraska are and will continue to be as good as the average of people elsewhere. I do not say to the contrary. What I do is that no say man is good enough to govern another man without that other's consent. I say this is the leading principle, the sheet-anchor of American Republicanism. Our Declaration of Independence says: "We hold these truths to be self-evident; that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain in- Speech at Peoria, Ill. in reply to Senator `HE legitimate object of government is to they need to have done, but cannot do at all, infinite variety of subdivision. The first-that in relation to wrong-embraces all crimes, misdemeanors, and non The Object of Government The Selection of Public Officers performance of contracts. The other embraces all which in its nature, and without wrong, requires combined action, as public roads and highways, public schools, charities, pauperism, orphanage, estates of the deceased, and the machinery of government itself. From this appears that if all men were just, there still would be some, though not so much, need of government. Fragment on Government. July 1, 1854. T is often urged that to say the public bank than in the hands of individuals, as way, |