Abraham Lincoln, an EssayHoughton, Mifflin, 1891 - 117 pages This essay was originally published in "The Atlantic Monthly" as a review of "Abraham Lincoln, a History," by John G. Nicolay and John Hay. Owing to many suggestions and requests which have come from various quarters to the author as well as the pbulishers, a republication in book form has been undertaken, and the original text has been revised and slightly modified to addapt it to that purpose. |
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Page 3
... Southern white , " shiftless and improvident , without ambi- tion for himself or his children , constantly looking for a new piece of land on which he might make a living without much work ; his mother , in her youth handsome and bright ...
... Southern white , " shiftless and improvident , without ambi- tion for himself or his children , constantly looking for a new piece of land on which he might make a living without much work ; his mother , in her youth handsome and bright ...
Page 47
... Southern people were entitled to a con- gressional fugitive slave law , " although he did not approve the fugitive slave law then existing . He declared also that , if slavery were kept out of the Territories during their territorial ...
... Southern people were entitled to a con- gressional fugitive slave law , " although he did not approve the fugitive slave law then existing . He declared also that , if slavery were kept out of the Territories during their territorial ...
Page 53
... Southern and the Northern democracy was thenceforth irremediable and fatal . - The presidential election of 1860 ap- proached . The struggle in Kansas , and the debates in Congress which accompa- nied it , and which not unfrequently pro ...
... Southern and the Northern democracy was thenceforth irremediable and fatal . - The presidential election of 1860 ap- proached . The struggle in Kansas , and the debates in Congress which accompa- nied it , and which not unfrequently pro ...
Page 54
... Southern Democrats would set up a candidate of their own , representing extreme pro - slavery principles . Meanwhile , the national Republican con- vention assembled at Chicago on the 16th of May , full of enthusiasm and hope . The ...
... Southern Democrats would set up a candidate of their own , representing extreme pro - slavery principles . Meanwhile , the national Republican con- vention assembled at Chicago on the 16th of May , full of enthusiasm and hope . The ...
Page 58
... Southern States had adopted ordinances of secession , formed an independent con- federacy , framed a constitution for it , and elected Jefferson Davis its president , ex- pecting the other slaveholding States soon to join them . On the ...
... Southern States had adopted ordinances of secession , formed an independent con- federacy , framed a constitution for it , and elected Jefferson Davis its president , ex- pecting the other slaveholding States soon to join them . On the ...
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Common terms and phrases
Abraham Lincoln administration American anti-slavery ardent armies became Benjamin Wade Black Hawk war cabinet called candidate Chase civil coln coln's Compromise of 1850 Congress Constitution convention debate declared defeated Democrats disunion doubt Douglas Douglas's Dred Scott duty election emancipation Emancipation Proclamation exclude slavery feeling felt fight force Frémont friends gave grew heart Henry Winter Davis honest Abe Lincoln Illi Illinois judgment Kansas-Nebraska bill knew legislature ment mind Missouri Missouri Compromise moral nature never nois nominated North oath opinion opponents opposition patriotic period plain political politicians popular sovereignty position President presidential proclamation proslavery quently rebellion reëlection REESE LIBRARY Republican Salem secessionists seldom Senate sentiment Seward slave slavery question soon soul Southern speech Springfield statesman struggle Territories by virtue thought tion true ular Union cause Union flag Union party United UNIVERSITY CALIFORNIA vention victorious votes Whig
Popular passages
Page 104 - With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive to finish the work we are in...
Page 43 - I do not expect the house to fall, but I do expect it will cease to be divided. It will become all one thing, or all the other. Either the opponents of slavery will arrest the further spread of it, and place it where the public mind shall rest in the belief that it is in the course of ultimate extinction; or its advocates will push it forward till it shall become alike lawful in all the States, old as well as new, North as well as South.
Page 51 - Can the people of a United States Territory, in any lawful way, against the wish of any citizen of the United States, exclude slavery from its limits prior to the formation of a State constitution?
Page 102 - But the rebellion continues, and now that the election is over, may not all having a common interest reunite in a common effort to save our common country! For my own part, I have striven and shall strive to avoid placing any obstacle in the way. So long as I have been here I have not willingly planted a thorn in any man's bosom.
Page 48 - I have said that I do not understand the Declaration to mean that all men were created equal in all respects. They are not our equal in color; but I suppose that it does mean to declare that all men are equal in some respects; they are equal in their right to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
Page 116 - Lincoln legend will be more than ordinarily apt to become fanciful, as his individuality, assembling seemingly incongruous qualities and forces in a character at the same time grand and most lovable, was so unique, and his career so abounding in startling contrasts. As the state of society in which Abraham Lincoln grew up passes away, the world will read with increasing wonder of the man who, not only of the humblest origin, but remaining the simplest and most unpretending of citizens, was raised...
Page 81 - It was in the oath I took that I would to the best of my ability preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States. I could not take the office without taking the oath. Nor was it my view that I might take an oath to get power, and break the oath in using the power.
Page 52 - I am after larger game," said he. "If Douglas so answers, he can never be President, and the battle of 1860 is worth a hundred of this." The interrogatory was pressed upon Douglas, and Douglas did answer that, no matter what the decision of the Supreme Court might be on the abstract question, the people of a Territory had the lawful means to introduce or exclude slavery by territorial legislation friendly or unfriendly to the institution. Lincoln found it easy to show the absurdity of the proposition...
Page 102 - So long as I have been here I have not willingly planted a thorn in any man's bosom. While I am deeply sensible to the high compliment of a re-election; and duly grateful, as I trust, to Almighty God for having directed my countrymen to a right conclusion, as I think, for their own good, it adds nothing to my satisfaction that any other man may be disappointed or pained by the result.
Page 10 - His heart bled," wrote one of his companions; "said nothing much; was silent; looked bad. I can say, knowing it, that it was on this trip that he formed his opinion on slavery. It run its iron in him then and there, May, 1831. I have heard him say so often.