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necessarily and unconstitutionally commenced by the President.

And even General Taylor, himself, the noblest Roman of them all, has declared that, as a citizen, and particularly as a soldier, it is sufficient for him to know that his country is at war with a foreign nation, to do all in his power to bring it to a speedy and honorable termination, by the most vigorous and energetic operations, without inquiring about its justice, or anything else connected with it.

Mr. Speaker, let our Democratic friends be comforted with the assurance that we are content with our position, content with our company, and content with our candidate; and that although they, in their generous sympathy, think we ought to be miserable, we really are not, and that they may dismiss the great anxiety they have on our account.

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"THE AGE IS NOT DEAD."

[Delivered in the Court House at Springfield, Ill, in 1855, to only three persons. Mr. Herndon got out huge posters, announcing the event, employed a band to parade the streets and drum up a crowd, and bells were rung, but only three persons were present. Mr. Lincoln was to have spoken on the slavery question.]

GENTLEMEN:-This meeting is larger than I knew it would be, as I knew Herndon, (Lincoln's partner) and myself would come, but I did not know that any one else would be here, and yet another has come-you John Paine, (the Janitor.)

These are bad times, and seem out of joint. All seems dead, dead, DEAD; but the age is NOT yet dead; it liveth as sure as our Maker liveth. Under all this seeming want of life and motion, the world does move nevertheless. Be hopeful. And now let us adjourn and appeal to the people!

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THE BALLOT vs. THE BULLET.

[Delivered to a delegation at Springfield, Ill., that proposed to visit Kansas Territory in the physical defense of freedom, in 1856. Hon. W. H. Herndon was in this delegation.]

FRIENDS:-I agree with you in Providence. I believe in the providence of the most men, the largest purse, and

the longest cannon. You are in the minority-in a sad minority; and you can't hope to succeed, reasoning from all human experience. You would rebel against the Government, and redden your hands in the blood of your countrymen. If you are in the minority, as you are, you can't succeed. I say again and again, against the Government, with a great majority of its best citizens backing it, and when they have the most men, the longest purse, and the biggest cannon you can't succeed. If you have the majority, as some say you have, you can succeed with the ballot, throwing away the bullet. You can peaceably then redeem the Government. and preserve the liberties of mankind, through your votes and voice and moral influence.

Let there be peace. In a democracy, where a majority rule by the ballot through the forms of law, these physicial rebellions and bloody resistances, are radically wrong; unconstitutional, and are treason. Better bear the ills you have than to fly to those you know not of. Our own Declaration of Independence says that govern-ments long established, for trival causes should not be resisted. Revolutionize through the ballot-box, and restore the Government once more to the affections and hearts of men, by making it express, as it was intended to do, the highest spirit of justice and liberty.

Your attempt, if there be such, to resist the laws of Kansas by force, is criminal and wicked; and all your feeble attempts will be follies, and end in bringing sorrow on your heads, and ruin the cause you would freely die to preserve.

[Spoken in the Library of the State House at Springfield, Illinois, to a few friends who wanted the sentence, "A house divided against itself cannot stand," expunged from the great speech known now as the "House Divided Against Itself Speech." Mr. Lincoln had submitted the manuscript for their criticism before the great speech was. delivered.]

FRIENDS:--I have thought about this matter a great deal, have weighed the question well from all corners, and am thoroughly convinced the time has come when it should be uttered; and if it must be that I must go down because of this speech, then let me go down linked to truth, die in the advocacy of what is right and just. This nation cannot live on injustice, "A house divided against itself cannot stand." I say again and again; the proposition is true and has been true for six thousand years, and I will deliver it as it is written.

[This celebrated speech is given in full, commencing on the following page.

Mr. Herndon told Mr. Lincoln privately that it was all true, but he doubted whether it was good policy to give it utterance at that time. "That makes no difference," responded Mr. Lincoln. "It is the truth, and the nation is entitled to it." Then, alluding to a quotation which he had made from the Bible--"A house divided against itself cannot stand," he said that he wished to give an illustration familiar to all, "that he who runs may read."]

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CAPITOL AT SPRINGFIELD, ILL,

LINCOLN'S FIRST SPEECH IN THE SENA

TORIAL CAMPAIGN.

"The House Divided Against Itself Speech."

(Delivered at Springfield, Ill., June 16, 1858, before the Republican State Convention. It is known as one of Lincoln's greatest speeches.)

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