...Illinois Republicans Lincoln eloquently stated his views on the nation's slavery issue by declaring, "We are now far into the fifth year since a policy...passed. A house divided against itself cannot stand.' I believe this government cannot endure permanently half slave and half free. I do not expect the Union...

...Lincoln also treated crisis as a deliberative moment in his "House Divided" speech when he stated: "We are now far into the fifth year since a policy...until a crisis shall have been reached and passed.""' By contrast, contemporary presidents — at least as early as the Truman Doctrine speech — have spoken...

...Illinois If we could first know where we are, and whither we are tending, we could then better judge what to do, and how to do it. We are now far into the fifth...policy was initiated, with the avowed object, and confirm promise, of putting an end to slavery agitation. Under the operation of that policy, that agitation...