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Constitution； in which he has not declared that we are just at the
end of the slavery agitation。 But in one speech； I think last
winter； he did say that he did n't quite see when the end of the
slavery agitation would come。 Now he tells us again that it is all
over and the people of Kansas have voted down the Lecompton
Constitution。 How is it over？ That was only one of the attempts at
putting an end to the slavery agitationone of these 〃final
settlements。〃 Is Kansas in the Union？ Has she formed a constitution
that she is likely to come in under？ Is not the slavery agitation
still an open question in that Territory？ Has the voting down of
that constitution put an end to all the trouble？ Is that more likely
to settle it than every one of these previous attempts to settle the
slavery agitation？ Now； at this day in the history of the world we
can no more foretell where the end of this slavery agitation will be
than we can see the end of the world itself。 The Nebraska…Kansas
Bill was introduced four years and a half ago； and if the agitation
is ever to come to an end we may say we are four years and a half
nearer the end。 So； too； we can say we are four years and a half
nearer the end of the world； and we can just as clearly see the end
of the world as we can see the end of this agitation。 The Kansas
settlement did not conclude it。 If Kansas should sink to…day； and
leave a great vacant space in the earth's surface； this vexed
question would still be among us。 I say； then； there is no way of
putting an end to the slavery agitation amongst us but to put it back
upon the basis where our fathers placed it； no way but to keep it out
of our new Territories；to restrict it forever to the old States
where it now exists。 Then the public mind will rest in the belief
that it is in the course of ultimate extinction。 That is one way of
putting an end to the slavery agitation。
The other way is for us to surrender and let Judge Douglas and his
friends have their way and plant slavery over all the States； cease
speaking of it as in any way a wrong； regard slavery as one of the
common matters of property； and speak of negroes as we do of our
horses and cattle。 But while it drives on in its state of progress
as it is now driving； and as it has driven for the last five years； I
have ventured the opinion； and I say to…day； that we will have no end
to the slavery agitation until it takes one turn or the other。 I do
not mean that when it takes a turn toward ultimate extinction it will
be in a day； nor in a year； nor in two years。 I do not suppose that
in the most peaceful way ultimate extinction would occur in less than
a hundred years at least； but that it will occur in the best way for
both races； in God's own good time； I have no doubt。 But； my
friends； I have used up more of my time than I intended on this
point。
Now； in regard to this matter about Trumbull and myself having made a
bargain to sell out the entire Whig and Democratic parties in 1854：
Judge Douglas brings forward no evidence to sustain his charge；
except the speech Matheny is said to have made in 1856； in which he
told a cock…and…bull story of that sort； upon the same moral
principles that Judge Douglas tells it here to…day。 This is the
simple truth。 I do not care greatly for the story； but this is the
truth of it： and I have twice told Judge Douglas to his face that
from beginning to end there is not one word of truth in it。 I have
called upon him for the proof； and he does not at all meet me as
Trumbull met him upon that of which we were just talking； by
producing the record。 He did n't bring the record because there was
no record for him to bring。 When he asks if I am ready to indorse
Trumbull's veracity after he has broken a bargain with me； I reply
that if Trumbull had broken a bargain with me I would not be likely
to indorse his veracity； but I am ready to indorse his veracity
because neither in that thing； nor in any other； in all the years
that I have known Lyman Trumbull； have I known him to fail of his
word or tell a falsehood large or small。 It is for that reason that
I indorse Lyman Trumbull。
＇Mr。 JAMES BROWN （Douglas postmaster）： 〃What does Ford's History say
about him？〃＇
Some gentleman asks me what Ford's History says about him。 My own
recollection is that Ford speaks of Trumbull in very disrespectful
terms in several portions of his book； and that he talks a great deal
worse of Judge Douglas。 I refer you； sir； to the History for
examination。
Judge Douglas complains at considerable length about a disposition on
the part of Trumbull and myself to attack him personally。 I want to
attend to that suggestion a moment。 I don't want to be unjustly
accused of dealing illiberally or unfairly with an adversary； either
in court or in a political canvass or anywhere else。 I would despise
myself if I supposed myself ready to deal less liberally with an
adversary than I was willing to be treated myself。 Judge Douglas in
a general way； without putting it in a direct shape； revives the old
charge against me in reference to the Mexican War。 He does not take
the responsibility of putting it in a very definite form； but makes a
general reference to it。 That charge is more than ten years old。 He
complains of Trumbull and myself because he says we bring charges
against him one or two years old。 He knows； too； that in regard to
the Mexican War story the more respectable papers of his own party
throughout the State have been compelled to take it back and
acknowledge that it was a lie。
＇Here Mr。 LINCOLN turned to the crowd on the platform； and； selecting
HON。 ORLANDO B。 FICKLIN； led him forward and said：＇
I do not mean to do anything with Mr。 FICKLIN except to present his
face and tell you that he personal1y knows it to be a lie！ He was a
member of Congress at the only time I was in Congress； and ＇FICKLIN＇
knows that whenever there was an attempt to procure a vote of mine
which would indorse the origin and justice of the war； I refused to
give such indorsement and voted against it； but I never voted against
the supplies for the army； and he knows； as well as Judge Douglas；
that whenever a dollar was asked by way of compensation or otherwise
for the benefit of the soldiers I gave all the votes that FICKLIN or
Douglas did； and perhaps more。
＇Mr。 FICKLIN： My friends； I wish to say this in reference to the
matter： Mr。 Lincoln and myself are just as good personal friends as
Judge Douglas and myself。 In reference to this Mexican War； my
recollection is that when Ashmun's resolution ＇amendment＇ was offered
by Mr。 Ashmun of Massachusetts； in which he declared that the Mexican
War was unnecessary and unconstitutionally commenced by the President
…my recollection is that Mr。 Lincoln voted for that resolution。＇
That is the truth。 Now； you all remember that was a resolution
censuring the President for the manner in which the war was begun。
You know they have charged that I voted against the supplies； by
which I starved the soldiers who were out fighting the battles of
their country。 I say that FICKLIN knows it is false。 When that
charge was brought forward by the Chicago Times； the Springfield
Register ＇Douglas's organ＇ reminded the Times that the charge really
applied to John Henry； and I do know that John Henry is now making
speeches and fiercely battling for Judge Douglas。 If the Judge now
says that he offers this as a sort of setoff to what I said to…day in
reference to Trumbull's charge； then I remind him that he made this
charge before I said a word about Trumbull's。 He brought this
forward at Ottawa； the first time we met face to face； and in the
opening speech that Judge Douglas made he attacked me in regard to a
matter ten years old。 Is n't he a pretty man to be whining about
people making charges against him only two years old！
The Judge thinks it is altogether