The Wisdom of Abraham LincolnThe works in this anthology were selected to highlight Lincoln's wisdom rather than his humor or personality. Examples include speeches to Congress arraigning President Polk, on internal improvements, on military heroes; letters to George E. Pickett, William Johnston, Horace Greeley, General Hooker, Andrew Johnson; and more. |
From inside the book
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Page 34
... Judge Douglas frequently , with bitter irony and sarcasm , paraphrases 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 ...
... Judge Douglas frequently , with bitter irony and sarcasm , paraphrases 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 ...
Page 50
... Judge Douglas's version . It will then run thus : " We hold these truths to be self - evident , that all British subjects who were on this continent eighty - one years ago , were created equal to all British subjects born and then ...
... Judge Douglas's version . It will then run thus : " We hold these truths to be self - evident , that all British subjects who were on this continent eighty - one years ago , were created equal to all British subjects born and then ...
Page 55
... Judge Douglas's speech last night reminded that this government was made for white men . Well , that is putting it into a shape in which no one wants to deny it ; but the judge then goes into his passion for drawing inferences that are ...
... Judge Douglas's speech last night reminded that this government was made for white men . Well , that is putting it into a shape in which no one wants to deny it ; but the judge then goes into his passion for drawing inferences that are ...
Page 57
... [ Judge Douglas's ] con- struction [ of the Declaration ] , you Germans are not connected with it . Now I ask you , in all soberness , if all these things , if indulged in , if ratified , if confirmed and indorsed , if taught to our ...
... [ Judge Douglas's ] con- struction [ of the Declaration ] , you Germans are not connected with it . Now I ask you , in all soberness , if all these things , if indulged in , if ratified , if confirmed and indorsed , if taught to our ...
Page 59
... Judge Douglas pro- poses not intentionally — working in the traces that tend to make this one universal slave nation . He is one that runs in that direction , and as such I resist him . — Speech at Chicago ; July 10 , 1858 . THERE 52 ...
... Judge Douglas pro- poses not intentionally — working in the traces that tend to make this one universal slave nation . He is one that runs in that direction , and as such I resist him . — Speech at Chicago ; July 10 , 1858 . THERE 52 ...
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Common terms and phrases
ABRAHAM LINCOLN army assumed believe bushwhacking capital cause colored condition Constitution created equal Debate with Douglas Democrats difference Dred Scott decision duty earth election emancipation enslave Erastus Corning ernment existence fathers favor February 22 feel fight forever freedom friends hired laborer hold hope human improvement institution of slavery invention Jefferson Judge Douglas land legislation Letter liberty matter mean ment Message to Congress military mind Missouri Compromise moral nation necessity negro never object Ohio once opinion party peace political popular popular sovereignty practical present President principle proclamation question race rebellion Remarks repeal Republican Samuel Galloway save the Union seceders secession Senator sentiment slave-trade slaves sophism South Carolina sovereignty Speech struggle suppose Territory thing think slavery thought Thurlow Weed tion true United venomous snake votes whole Wilmot Proviso wrong
Popular passages
Page 126 - I shall have the most solemn one to "preserve, protect, and defend it." I am loath to close. We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory, stretching from every battlefield and patriot grave to every living heart and hearthstone all over this broad land, will yet swell the chorus of the Union, when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature.
Page 176 - Fondly do we hope, fervently do we pray, that this mighty scourge of war may speedily pass away. Yet, if God wills that it continue until all the wealth piled by the bondman's two hundred and fifty years of unrequited toil shall be sunk, and until every drop of blood drawn with the lash shall be paid by another drawn with the sword, as was said three thousand years ago, so still it must be said, "The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
Page 175 - If we shall suppose that American slavery is one of those offenses which, in the providence of God, must needs come, but which, having continued through his appointed time, he now wills to remove, and that he gives to both North and South this terrible war, as the woe due to those by whom the offense...
Page 151 - A nation may be said to consist of its territory, its people, and its laws. The territory is the only part which is of certain durability. "One generation passeth away and another generation cometh, but the earth abideth forever.
Page 124 - Plainly, the central idea of secession, is the essence of anarchy. A majority, held in restraint by constitutional checks, and limitations, and always changing easily, with deliberate changes of popular opinions and sentiments, is the only true sovereign of a free people.
Page 179 - Finding themselves safely at home, it would be utterly immaterial whether they had ever been abroad. Let us all join in doing the acts necessary to restoring the proper practical relations between these States and the Union, and each forever after innocently indulge his own opinion whether in doing the acts he brought the States from without into the Union, or only gave them proper assistance, they never having been out of it.
Page 74 - That is the real issue. That is the issue that will continue in this country when these poor tongues of Judge Douglas and myself shall be silent. It is the eternal struggle between these two principles — right and wrong — throughout the world.
Page 146 - What good would a proclamation of emancipation from me do, especially as we are now situated ? I do not want to issue a document that the whole world will see must necessarily be inoperative, like the Pope's bull against the comet.
Page 27 - The legitimate object of government is to do for a community of people whatever they need to have done, but cannot do at all, or cannot so well do. for themselves, in their separate and individual capacities.
Page 79 - This is a world of compensation; and he who would be no slave must consent to have no slave. Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves, and, under a just God, cannot long retain it.