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The Writings of Abraham Lincoln
by Abraham Lincoln
VOLUME IV
THE LINCOLN…DOUGLAS DEBATES II
LINCOLN AND DOUGLAS FOURTH JOINT DEBATE；
AT CHARLESTON； SEPTEMBER 18； 1858。
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN：It will be very difficult for an audience so
large as this to hear distinctly what a speaker says； and
consequently it is important that as profound silence be preserved as
possible。
While I was at the hotel to…day； an elderly gentleman called upon me
to know whether I was really in favor of producing a perfect equality
between the negroes and white people。 While I had not proposed to
myself on this occasion to say much on that subject； yet as the
question was asked me I thought I would occupy perhaps five minutes
in saying something in regard to it。 I will say； then； that I am
not； nor ever have been； in favor of bringing about in any way the
social and political equality of the white and black races； that I am
not； nor ever have been； in favor of making voters or jurors of
negroes； nor of qualifying them to hold office； nor to intermarry
with white people； and I will say； in addition to this； that there is
a physical difference between the white and black races which I
believe will forever forbid the two races living together on terms of
social and political equality。 And in as much as they cannot so
live； while they do remain together there must be the position of
superior and inferior； and I as much as any other man am in favor of
having the superior position assigned to the white race。 I say upon
this occasion I do not perceive that because the white man is to have
the superior position the negro should be denied everything。 I do
not understand that because I do not want a negro woman for a slave I
must necessarily want her for a wife。 My understanding is that I can
just let her alone。 I am now in my fiftieth year； and I certainly
never have had a black woman for either a slave or a wife。 So it
seems to me quite possible for us to get along without making either
slaves or wives of negroes。 I will add to this that I have never
seen； to my knowledge； a man； woman； or child who was in favor of
producing a perfect equality； social and political； between negroes
and white men。 I recollect of but one distinguished instance that I
ever heard of so frequently as to be entirely satisfied of its
correctness； and that is the case of Judge Douglas's old friend
Colonel Richard M。 Johnson。 I will also add to the remarks I have
made （for I am not going to enter at large upon this subject）； that I
have never had the least apprehension that I or my friends would
marry negroes if there was no law to keep them from it； but as Judge
Douglas and his friends seem to be in great apprehension that they
might； if there were no law to keep them from it； I give him the most
solemn pledge that I will to the very last stand by the law of this
State which forbids the marrying of white people with negroes。 I
will add one further word； which is this： that I do not understand
that there is any place where an alteration of the social and
political relations of the negro and the white man can be made；
except in the State Legislature；not in the Congress of the United
States； and as I do not really apprehend the approach of any such
thing myself； and as Judge Douglas seems to be in constant horror
that some such danger is rapidly approaching； I propose as the best
means to prevent it that the Judge be kept at home； and placed in the
State Legislature to fight the measure。 I do not propose dwelling
longer at this time on this subject。
When Judge Trumbull； our other Senator in Congress； returned to
Illinois in the month of August； he made a speech at Chicago； in
which he made what may be called a charge against Judge Douglas；
which I understand proved to be very offensive to him。 The Judge was
at that time out upon one of his speaking tours through the country；
and when the news of it reached him； as I am informed； he denounced
Judge Trumbull in rather harsh terms for having said what he did in
regard to that matter。 I was traveling at that time； and speaking at
the same places with Judge Douglas on subsequent days； and when I
heard of what Judge Trumbull had said of Douglas； and what Douglas
had said back again； I felt that I was in a position where I could
not remain entirely silent in regard to the matter。 Consequently；
upon two or three occasions I alluded to it； and alluded to it in no
other wise than to say that in regard to the charge brought by
Trumbull against Douglas； I personally knew nothing； and sought to
say nothing about it； that I did personally know Judge Trumbull； that
I believed him to be a man of veracity； that I believed him to be a
man of capacity sufficient to know very well whether an assertion he
was making； as a conclusion drawn from a set of facts； was true or
false； and as a conclusion of my own from that； I stated it as my
belief if Trumbull should ever be called upon； he would prove
everything he had said。 I said this upon two or three occasions。
Upon a subsequent occasion； Judge Trumbull spoke again before an
audience at Alton； and upon that occasion not only repeated his
charge against Douglas； but arrayed the evidence he relied upon to
substantiate it。 This speech was published at length； and
subsequently at Jacksonville Judge Douglas alluded to the matter。 In
the course of his speech； and near the close of it； he stated in
regard to myself what I will now read：
〃Judge Douglas proceeded to remark that he should not hereafter
occupy his time in refuting such charges made by Trumbull； but that；
Lincoln having indorsed the character of Trumbull for veracity； he
should hold him （Lincoln） responsible for the slanders。〃
I have done simply what I have told you； to subject me to this
invitation to notice the charge。 I now wish to say that it had not
originally been my purpose to discuss that matter at all But in…as…
much as it seems to be the wish of Judge Douglas to hold me
responsible for it； then for once in my life I will play General
Jackson； and to the just extent I take the responsibility。
I wish to say at the beginning that I will hand to the reporters that
portion of Judge Trumbull's Alton speech which was devoted to this
matter； and also that portion of Judge Douglas's speech made at
Jacksonville in answer to it。 I shall thereby furnish the readers of
this debate with the complete discussion between Trumbull and
Douglas。 I cannot now read them； for the reason that it would take
half of my first hour to do so。 I can only make some comments upon
them。 Trumbull's charge is in the following words：
〃Now； the charge is； that there was a plot entered into to have a
constitution formed for Kansas； and put in force； without giving the
people an opportunity to vote upon it； and that Mr。 Douglas was in
the plot。〃
I will state； without quoting further； for all will have an
opportunity of reading it hereafter； that Judge Trumbull brings
forward what he regards as sufficient evidence to substantiate this
charge。
It will be perceived Judge Trumbull shows that Senator Bigler； upon
the floor of the Senate； had declared there had been a conference
among the senators； in which conference it was determined to have an
enabling act passed for the people of Kansas to form a constitution
under； and in this conference it was agreed among them that it was
best not to have a provision for submitting the constitution to a
vote of the people after it should be formed。 He then brings forward
to show； and showing； as he deemed； that Judge Douglas reported the
bill back to the Senate with that clause stricken out。 He then shows
that there was a new clause inserted into the bill； which would in
its nature prevent a reference of the constitution back for a vote of
the people；if； indeed； upon a mere silen