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 31
... South . When they remind us of their constitu- tional rights , I acknowledge them - not grudgingly , but fully and fairly ; and I would give them any legislation for the reclaiming of their fugitives which should not in its stringency ...
... South . When they remind us of their constitu- tional rights , I acknowledge them - not grudgingly , but fully and fairly ; and I would give them any legislation for the reclaiming of their fugitives which should not in its stringency ...
Page 32
... South , it is said , re- quires us to consent to the extension of slavery to new countries . That is to say , inasmuch as you do not object to my taking my hog to Nebraska , therefore I must not object to you taking your slave . Now , I ...
... South , it is said , re- quires us to consent to the extension of slavery to new countries . That is to say , inasmuch as you do not object to my taking my hog to Nebraska , therefore I must not object to you taking your slave . Now , I ...
Page 35
... South Carolina and Maine . South Carolina has six representatives , and so has Maine ; South Carolina has 35.
... South Carolina and Maine . South Carolina has six representatives , and so has Maine ; South Carolina has 35.
Page 36
... South Carolina has 274,567 ; Maine has twice as many as South Carolina , and 32,679 over . Thus , each white man in South Carolina is more than the double of any man in Maine . This is all because South Carolina , besides her free ...
... South Carolina has 274,567 ; Maine has twice as many as South Carolina , and 32,679 over . Thus , each white man in South Carolina is more than the double of any man in Maine . This is all because South Carolina , besides her free ...
Page 39
... South as well as North , shall we make no effort to ar- rest this ? Already the liberal party through- out the world express the apprehension " that the one retrograde institution in America is undermining the principles of progress ...
... South as well as North , shall we make no effort to ar- rest this ? Already the liberal party through- out the world express the apprehension " that the one retrograde institution in America is undermining the principles of progress ...
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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.