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opposition； what we mean to do with you。 We mean to treat you； as
near as we possibly can； as Washington； Jefferson； and Madison
treated you。 We mean to leave you alone； and in no way interfere
with your institution； to abide by all and every compromise of the
Constitution； and； in a word； coming back to the original
proposition； to treat you； so far as degenerated men （if we have
degenerated） may； according to the examples of those noble fathers；
Washington； Jefferson； and Madison。 We mean to remember that you are
as good as we； that there is no difference between us other than the
difference of circumstances。 We mean to recognize and bear in mind
always that you have as good hearts in your bosoms as other people；
or as we claim to have； and treat you accordingly。 We mean to marry
your girls when we have a chance； the white ones I mean； and I have
the honor to inform you that I once did have a chance in that way。
I have told you what we mean to do。 I want to know； now； when that
thing takes place； what do you mean to do？ I often hear it intimated
that you mean to divide the Union whenever a Republican； or anything
like it； is elected President of the United States。 ＇A voice： 〃That
is so。〃＇ 〃That is so；〃 one of them says； I wonder if he is a
Kentuckian？ ＇A voice： 〃He is a Douglas man。〃＇ Well； then； I want to
know what you are going to do with your half of it？ Are you going to
split the Ohio down through； and push your half off a piece？ Or are
you going to keep it right alongside of us outrageous fellows？ Or
are you going to build up a wall some way between your country and
ours； by which that movable property of yours can't come over here
any more； to the danger of your losing it？ Do you think you can
better yourselves； on that subject； by leaving us here under no
obligation whatever to return those specimens of your movable
property that come hither？ You have divided the Union because we
would not do right with you； as you think； upon that subject； when we
cease to be under obligations to do anything for you； how much better
off do you think you will be？ Will you make war upon us and kill us
all？ Why； gentlemen； I think you are as gallant and as brave men as
live； that you can fight as bravely in a good cause； man for man； as
any other people living； that you have shown yourselves capable of
this upon various occasions： but； man for man； you are not better
than we are； and there are not so many of you as there are of us。 You
will never make much of a hand at whipping us。 If we were fewer in
numbers than you； I think that you could whip us； if we were equal；
it would likely be a drawn battle； but being inferior in numbers； you
will make nothing by attempting to master us。
But perhaps I have addressed myself as long； or longer； to the
Kentuckians than I ought to have done； inasmuch as I have said that
whatever course you take we intend in the end to beat you。 I propose
to address a few remarks to our friends； by way of discussing with
them the best means of keeping that promise that I have in good faith
made。
It may appear a little episodical for me to mention the topic of
which I will speak now。 It is a favorite position of Douglas's that
the interference of the General Government； through the Ordinance of
'87； or through any other act of the General Government never has
made or ever can make a free State； the Ordinance of '87 did not make
free States of Ohio； Indiana； or Illinois； that these States are free
upon his 〃great principle〃 of popular sovereignty； because the people
of those several States have chosen to make them so。 At Columbus；
and probably here； he undertook to compliment the people that they
themselves have made the State of Ohio free； and that the Ordinance
of '87 was not entitled in any degree to divide the honor with them。
I have no doubt that the people of the State of Ohio did make her
free according to their own will and judgment； but let the facts be
remembered。
In 1802； I believe； it was you who made your first constitution； with
the clause prohibiting slavery； and you did it； I suppose； very
nearly unanimously； but you should bear in mind that youspeaking of
you as one peoplethat you did so unembarrassed by the actual
presence of the； institution amongst you； that you made it a free
State not with the embarrassment upon you of already having among you
many slaves； which if they had been here； and you had sought to make
a free State； you would not know what to do with。 If they had been
among you； embarrassing difficulties； most probably； would have
induced you to tolerate a slave constitution instead of a free one；
as indeed these very difficulties have constrained every people on
this continent who have adopted slavery。
Pray what was it that made you free？ What kept you free？ Did you
not find your country free when you came to decide that Ohio should
be a free State？ It is important to inquire by what reason you found
it so。 Let us take an illustration between the States of Ohio and
Kentucky。 Kentucky is separated by this River Ohio； not a mile wide。
A portion of Kentucky； by reason of the course of the Ohio； is
farther north than this portion of Ohio； in which we now stand。
Kentucky is entirely covered with slavery； Ohio is entirely free from
it： What made that difference？ Was it climate？ No。 A portion of
Kentucky was farther north than this portion of Ohio。 Was it soil？
No。 There is nothing in the soil of the one more favorable to slave
than the other。 It was not climate or soil that mused one side of the
line to be entirely covered with slavery； and the other side free of
it。 What was it？ Study over it。 Tell us； if you can； in all the
range of conjecture； if there be anything you can conceive of that
made that difference； other than that there was no law of any sort
keeping it out of Kentucky； while the Ordinance of '87 kept it out of
Ohio。 If there is any other reason than this； I confess that it is
wholly beyond my power to conceive of it。 This； then； I offer to
combat the idea that that Ordinance has never made any State free。
I don't stop at this illustration。 I come to the State of Indiana；
and what I have said as between Kentucky and Ohio； I repeat as
between Indiana and Kentucky： it is equally applicable。 One
additional argument is applicable also to Indiana。 In her
Territorial condition she more than once petitioned Congress to
abrogate the Ordinance entirely； or at least so far as to suspend its
operation for a； time； in order that they should exercise the
〃popular sovereignty〃 of having slaves if they wanted them。 The men
then controlling the General Government； imitating the men of the
Revolution； refused Indiana that privilege。 And so we have the
evidence that Indiana supposed she could have slaves； if it were not
for that Ordinance； that she besought Congress to put that barrier
out of the way； that Congress refused to do so； and it all ended at
last in Indiana being a free State。 Tell me not then that the
Ordinance of '87 had nothing to do with making Indiana a free State；
when we find some men chafing against； and only restrained by； that
barrier。
Come down again to our State of Illinois。 The great Northwest
Territory； including Ohio； Indiana； Illinois； Michigan； and
Wisconsin； was acquired first； I believe； by the British Government；
in part at least； from the French。 Before the establishment of our
independence it became a part of Virginia； enabling Virginia
afterward to transfer it to the General Government。 There were
French settlements in what is now Illinois； and at the same time
there were French settlements in what is now Missouri； in the tract
of country that was not purchased till about 1803。 In these French
settlements negro slavery had existed for many years； perhaps more
than a hundred； if not as much as two hundred years；at Kaskaskia；
in Illinois； and