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Douglas is advocating； that we are to care nothing about it！ I ask
you if it is not a false philosophy。 Is it not a false statesmanship
that undertakes to build up a system of policy upon the basis of
caring nothing about the very thing that everybody does care the most
abouta thing which all experience has shown we care a very great
deal about？
The Judge alludes very often in the course of his remarks to the
exclusive right which the States have to decide the whole thing for
themselves。 I agree with him very readily that the different States
have that right。 He is but fighting a man of straw when he assumes
that I am contending against the right of the States to do as they
please about it。 Our controversy with him is in regard to the new
Territories。 We agree that when the States come in as States they
have the right and the power to do as they please。 We have no power
as citizens of the free…States； or in our Federal capacity as members
of the Federal Union through the General Government； to disturb
slavery in the States where it exists。 We profess constantly that we
have no more inclination than belief in the power of the government
to disturb it； yet we are driven constantly to defend ourselves from
the assumption that we are warring upon the rights of the Sates。
What I insist upon is； that the new Territories shall be kept free
from it while in the Territorial condition。 Judge Douglas assumes
that we have no interest in them；that we have no right whatever to
interfere。 I think we have some interest。 I think that as white men
we have。 Do we not wish for an outlet for our surplus population； if
I may so express myself？ Do we not feel an interest in getting to
that outlet with such institutions as we would like to have prevail
there？ If you go to the Territory opposed to slavery； and another
man comes upon the same ground with his slave； upon the assumption
that the things are equal； it turns out that he has the equal right
all his way； and you have no part of it your way。 If he goes in and
makes it a slave Territory； and by consequence a slave State； is it
not time that those who desire to have it a free State were on equal
ground？ Let me suggest it in a different way。 How many Democrats
are there about here ＇〃A thousand〃＇ who have left slave States and
come into the free State of Illinois to get rid of the institution of
slavery？ ＇Another voice： 'A thousand and one。〃＇ I reckon there are a
thousand and one。 I will ask you； if the policy you are now
advocating had prevailed when this country was in a Territorial
condition； where would you have gone to get rid of it？ Where would
you have found your free State or Territory to go to？ And when
hereafter； for any cause； the people in this place shall desire to
find new homes； if they wish to be rid of the institution； where will
they find the place to go to？
Now； irrespective of the moral aspect of this question as to whether
there is a right or wrong in enslaving a negro； I am still in favor
of our new Territories being in such a condition that white men may
find a home；may find some spot where they can better their
condition； where they can settle upon new soil and better their
condition in life。 I am in favor of this； not merely （I must say it
here as I have elsewhere） for our own people who are born amongst us；
but as an outlet for free white people everywhere the world overin
which Hans； and Baptiste； and Patrick； and all other men from all the
world； may find new homes and better their conditions in life。
I have stated upon former occasions； and I may as well state again；
what I understand to be the real issue in this controversy between
Judge Douglas and myself。 On the point of my wanting to make war
between the free and the slave States； there has been no issue
between us。 So； too； when he assumes that I am in favor of producing
a perfect social and political equality between the white and black
races。 These are false issues； upon which Judge Douglas has tried to
force the controversy。 There is no foundation in truth for the
charge that I maintain either of these propositions。 The real issue
in this controversythe one pressing upon every mindis the
sentiment on the part of one class that looks upon the institution of
slavery as a wrong； and of another class that does not look upon it
as a wrong。 The sentiment that contemplates the institution of
slavery in this country as a wrong is the sentiment of the Republican
party。 It is the sentiment around which all their actions； all their
arguments； circle； from which all their propositions radiate。 They
look upon it as being a moral； social； and political wrong； and while
they contemplate it a； such； they nevertheless have due regard for
its actual existence among us； and the difficulties of getting rid of
it in any satisfactory way； and to all the constitutional obligations
thrown about it。 Yet； having a due regard for these； they desire a
policy in regard to it that looks to its not creating any more
danger。 They insist that it should； as far as may be； be treated as
a wrong； and one of the methods of treating it as a wrong is to make
provision that it shall grow no larger。 They also desire a policy
that looks to a peaceful end of slavery at some time。 These are the
views they entertain in regard to it as I understand them； and all
their sentiments； all their arguments and propositions； are brought
within this range。 I have said； and I repeat it here； that if there
be a man amongst us who does not think that the institution of
slavery is wrong in any one of the aspects of which I have spoken； he
is misplaced； and ought not to be with us。 And if there be a man
amongst us who is so impatient of it as a wrong as to disregard its
actual presence among us and the difficulty of getting rid of it
suddenly in a satisfactory way； and to disregard the constitutional
obligations thrown about it； that man is misplaced if he is on our
platform。 We disclaim sympathy with him in practical action。 He is
not placed properly with us。
On this subject of treating it as a wrong； and limiting its spread；
let me say a word。 Has anything ever threatened the existence of
this Union save and except this very institution of slavery？ What is
it that we hold most dear amongst us？ Our own liberty and
prosperity。 What has ever threatened our liberty and prosperity；
save and except this institution of slavery？ If this is true； how do
you propose to improve the condition of things by enlarging slavery；
by spreading it out and making it bigger？ You may have a wen or
cancer upon your person； and not be able to cut it out； lest you
bleed to death； but surely it is no way to cure it； to engraft it and
spread it over your whole body。 That is no proper way of treating
what you regard a wrong。 You see this peaceful way of dealing with
it as a wrong； restricting the spread of it； and not allowing it to
go into new countries where it has not already existed。 That is the
peaceful way； the old…fashioned way； the way in which the fathers
themselves set us the example。
On the other hand； I have said there is a sentiment which treats it
as not being wrong。 That is the Democratic sentiment of this day。 I
do not mean to say that every man who stands within that range
positively asserts that it is right。 That class will include all who
positively assert that it is right； and all who； like Judge Douglas；
treat it as indifferent and do not say it is either right or wrong。
These two classes of men fall within the general class of those who
do not look upon it as a wrong。 And if there be among you anybody
who supposes that he； as a Democrat； can consider himself 〃as much
opposed to slavery as anybody；〃 I would like to reason with him。 You
never treat it as a wrong。 What other thing that you consider as a
wrong do you deal with as you deal with that？ Perhaps you