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the opponents of slavery will arrest the further spread of it； and
place it where the public mind shall rest in the belief that it is in
the course of ultimate extinction； or its advocates will push it
forward till it shall become alike lawful in all the States； old as
well as new； North as well as South。〃
That extract and the sentiments expressed in it have been extremely
offensive to Judge Douglas。 He has warred upon them as Satan wars
upon the Bible。 His perversions upon it are endless。 Here now are
my views upon it in brief：
I said we were now far into the fifth year since a policy was
initiated with the avowed object and confident promise of putting an
end to the slavery agitation。 Is it not so？ When that Nebraska Bill
was brought forward four years ago last January； was it not for the
〃avowed object〃 of putting an end to the slavery agitation？ We were
to have no more agitation in Congress； it was all to be banished to
the Territories。 By the way； I will remark here that； as Judge
Douglas is very fond of complimenting Mr。 Crittenden in these days；
Mr。 Crittenden has said there was a falsehood in that whole business；
for there was no slavery agitation at that time to allay。 We were
for a little while quiet on the troublesome thing； and that very
allaying plaster of Judge Douglas's stirred it up again。 But was it
not understood or intimated with the 〃confident promise〃 of putting
an end to the slavery agitation？ Surely it was。 In every speech you
heard Judge Douglas make； until he got into this 〃imbroglio；〃 as they
call it； with the Administration about the Lecompton Constitution；
every speech on that Nebraska Bill was full of his felicitations that
we were just at the end of the slavery agitation。 The last tip of
the last joint of the old serpent's tail was just drawing out of
view。 But has it proved so？ I have asserted that under that policy
that agitation 〃has not only not ceased； but has constantly
augmented。〃 When was there ever a greater agitation in Congress than
last winter？ When was it as great in the country as to…day？
There was a collateral object in the introduction of that Nebraska
policy； which was to clothe the people of the Territories with a
superior degree of self…government； beyond what they had ever had
before。 The first object and the main one of conferring upon the
people a higher degree of 〃self…government〃 is a question of fact to
be determined by you in answer to a single question。 Have you ever
heard or known of a people anywhere on earth who had as little to do
as； in the first instance of its use； the people of Kansas had with
this same right of 〃self…government 〃？ In its main policy and in its
collateral object； it has been nothing but a living； creeping lie
from the time of its introduction till to…day。
I have intimated that I thought the agitation would not cease until a
crisis should have been reached and passed。 I have stated in what
way I thought it would be reached and passed。 I have said that it
might go one way or the other。 We might； by arresting the further
spread of it； and placing it where the fathers originally placed it；
put it where the public mind should rest in the belief that it was in
the course of ultimate extinction。 Thus the agitation may cease。 It
may be pushed forward until it shall become alike lawful in all the
States； old as well as new； North as well as South。 I have said； and
I repeat； my wish is that the further spread of it may be arrested；
and that it may be where the public mind shall rest in the belief
that it is in the course of ultimate extinctionI have expressed
that as my wish I entertain the opinion； upon evidence sufficient to
my mind； that the fathers of this government placed that institution
where the public mind did rest in the belief that it was in the
course of ultimate extinction。 Let me ask why they made provision
that the source of slaverythe African slave…tradeshould be cut
off at the end of twenty years？ Why did they make provision that in
all the new territory we owned at that time slavery should be forever
inhibited？ Why stop its spread in one direction； and cut off its
source in another； if they did not look to its being placed in the
course of its ultimate extinction？
Again： the institution of slavery is only mentioned in the
Constitution of the United States two or three times； and in neither
of these cases does the word 〃slavery〃 or 〃negro race〃 occur； but
covert language is used each time； and for a purpose full of
significance。 What is the language in regard to the prohibition of
the African slave…trade？ It runs in about this way：
〃The migration or importation of such persons as any of the States
now existing shall think proper to admit； shall not be prohibited by
the Congress prior to the year one thousand eight hundred and eight。〃
The next allusion in the Constitution to the question of slavery and
the black race is on the subject of the basis of representation； and
there the language used is：
〃Representatives and direct taxes shall be apportioned among the
several States which may be included within this Union； according to
their respective numbers； which shall be determined by adding to the
whole number of free persons； including those bound to service for a
term of years； and excluding Indians not taxed； three…fifths of all
other persons。〃
It says 〃persons；〃 not slaves； not negroes； but this 〃three…fifths〃
can be applied to no other class among us than the negroes。
Lastly； in the provision for the reclamation of fugitive slaves； it
is said：
〃No person held to service or labor in one State； under the laws
thereof； escaping into another； shall in consequence of any law or
regulation therein be discharged from such service or labor； but
shall be delivered up； on claim of the party to whom such service or
labor may be due。〃
There again there is no mention of the word 〃negro〃 or of slavery。
In all three of these places； being the only allusions to slavery in
the instrument； covert language is used。 Language is used not
suggesting that slavery existed or that the black race were among us。
And I understand the contemporaneous history of those times to be
that covert language was used with a purpose； and that purpose was
that in our Constitution； which it was hoped and is still hoped will
endure forever；when it should be read by intelligent and patriotic
men； after the institution of slavery had passed from among us；
there should be nothing on the face of the great charter of liberty
suggesting that such a thing as negro slavery had ever existed among
us。 This is part of the evidence that the fathers of the government
expected and intended the institution of slavery to come to an end。
They expected and intended that it should be in the course of
ultimate extinction。 And when I say that I desire to see the further
spread of it arrested； I only say I desire to see that done which the
fathers have first done。 When I say I desire to see it placed where
the public mind will rest in the belief that it is in the course of
ultimate extinction； I only say I desire to see it placed where they
placed it。 It is not true that our fathers； as Judge Douglas
assumes； made this government part slave and part free。 Understand
the sense in which he puts it。 He assumes that slavery is a rightful
thing within itself；was introduced by the framers of the
Constitution。 The exact truth is； that they found the institution
existing among us； and they left it as they found it。 But in making
the government they left this institution with many clear marks of
disapprobation upon it。 They found slavery among them； and they left
it among them because of the difficultythe absolute impossibility
of its immediate removal。 And when Judge Douglas asks me why we
cannot let it remain part slave and part free； as the fathers of the
gover