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you are unanimous in rejecting and denouncing the old policy of the
fathers。 Some of you are for reviving the foreign slave…trade； some
for a congressional slave code for the Territories； some for Congress
forbidding the Territories to prohibit slavery within their limits；
some for maintaining slavery in the Territories through the
judiciary； some for the 〃gur…reat pur…rinciple〃 that if one man would
enslave another； no third man should objectfantastically called
〃popular sovereignty。〃 But never a man among you in favor of
prohibition of slavery in Federal Territories； according to the
practice of our fathers who framed the Government under which we
live。 Not one of all your various plans can show a precedent or an
advocate in the century within which our Government originated。 And
yet you draw yourselves up and say； 〃We are eminently conservative。〃
It is exceedingly desirable that all parts of this great confederacy
shall be at peace； and in harmony one with another。 Let us
Republicans do our part to have it so。 Even though much provoked；
let us do nothing through passion and ill…temper。 Even though the
Southern people will not so much as listen to us； let us calmly
consider their demands； and yield to them if； in our deliberate view
of our duty； we possibly can。 Judging by all they say and do； and by
the subject and nature of their controversy with us； let us
determine； if we can； what will satisfy them。
Will they be satisfied if the Territories be unconditionally
surrendered to them？ We know they will not。 In all their present
complaints against us； the Territories are scarcely mentioned。
Invasions and insurrections are the rage now。 Will it satisfy them；
in the future； if we have nothing to do with invasions and
insurrections？ We know it will not。 We so know because we know we
never had anything to do with invasions and insurrections； and yet
this total abstaining does not exempt us from the charge and the
denunciation。
The question recurs； what will satisfy them？ Simply this： we must not
only let them alone； but we must； somehow； convince them that we do
let them alone。 This； we know by experience； is no easy task。 We
have been so trying to convince them； from the very beginning of our
organization； but with no success。 In all our platforms and
speeches； we have constantly protested our purpose to let them alone；
but this had no tendency to convince them。 Alike unavailing to
convince them is the fact that they have never detected a man of us
in any attempt to disturb them。
These natural and apparently adequate means all failing； what will
convince them？ This； and this only： cease to call slavery wrong； and
join them in calling it right。 And this must be done thoroughly
done in acts as well as in words。 Silence will not be toleratedwe
must place ourselves avowedly with them。 Douglas's new sedition law
must be enacted and enforced； suppressing all declarations that
slavery is wrong； whether made in politics； in presses； in pulpits；
or in private。 We must arrest and return their fugitive slaves with
greedy pleasure。 We must pull down our free State constitutions。
The whole atmosphere must be disinfected of all taint of opposition
to slavery； before they will cease to believe that all their troubles
proceed from us。 So long as we call slavery wrong； whenever a slave
runs away they will overlook the obvious fact that be ran away
because he was oppressed； and declare he was stolen off。 Whenever a
master cuts his slaves with a lash； and they cry out under it； he
will overlook the obvious fact that the negroes cry out because they
are hurt； and insist that they were put up to it by some rascally
abolitionist。
I am quite aware that they do not state their case precisely in this
way。 Most of them would probably say to us； 〃Let us alone； do
nothing to us； and say what you please about slavery。〃 But we do let
them alonehave never disturbed themso that； after all； it is what
we say which dissatisfies them。 They will continue to accuse us of
doing； until we cease saying。
I am also aware that they have not as yet in terms demanded the
overthrow of our free…State constitutions。 Yet those constitutions
declare the wrong of slavery with more solemn emphasis than do all
other sayings against it； and when all these other sayings shall have
been silenced； the overthrow of these constitutions will be demanded。
It is nothing to the contrary that they do not demand the whole of
this just now。 Demanding what they do； and for the reason they do；
they can voluntarily stop nowhere short of this consummation。
Holding as they do that slavery is morally right； and socially
elevating； they cannot cease to demand a full national recognition of
it； as a legal right； and a social blessing。
Nor can we justifiably withhold this on any ground save our
conviction that slavery is wrong。 If slavery is right； all words；
acts； laws； and constitutions against it are themselves wrong and
should be silenced and swept away。 If it is right； we cannot justly
object to its nationalityits universality： if it is wrong； they
cannot justly insist upon its extensionits enlargement。 All they
ask； we could readily grant； if we thought slavery right； all we ask；
they could as readily grant； if they thought it wrong。 Their
thinking it right and our thinking it wrong is the precise fact on
which depends the whole controversy。 Thinking it right as they do；
they are not to blame for desiring its full recognition； as being
right； but； thinking it wrong； as we do； can we yield to them？ Can we
cast our votes with their view； and against our own？ In view of our
moral； social； and political responsibilities； can we do this？
Wrong as we think slavery is； we can yet afford to let it alone where
it is because that much is due to the necessity arising from its
actual presence m the nation； but can we； while our votes will
prevent it； allow it to spread into the national Territories； and to
overrun us here in these free States？
If our sense of duty forbids this； then let us stand by our duty；
fearlessly and effectively。 Let us be diverted by none of those
sophistical contrivances wherewith we are so industriously plied and
belaboredcontrivances such as groping for some middle ground
between the right and the wrong； vain as the search for a man who
would be neither a living man nor a dead mansuch as a policy of
〃don't care〃 on a question about which all free men do caresuch as
Union appeals beseeching true Union men to yield to Disunionists；
reversing the divine rule； and caning； not the sinners； but the
righteous to repentancesuch as invocations of Washington； imploring
men to unsay what Washington did。
Neither let us be slandered from our duty by false accusations
against us； nor frightened from it by menaces of destruction to the
Government； nor of dungeons to ourselves。 Let us have faith that
right makes might； and in that faith； let us； to the end； dare to do
our duty as we understand it。
＇As Mr。 Lincoln concluded his address； there was witnessed the
wildest scene of enthusiasm and excitement that has been in New Haven
for years。 The Palladium editorially says： 〃We give up most of our
space to…day to a very full report of the eloquent speech of the HON。
Abraham Lincoln； of Illinois； delivered last night at Union Hall。〃＇
RESPONSE TO AN ELECTOR'S REQUEST FOR MONEY
TO ________________
March 16； 1860
As to your kind wishes for myself； allow me to say I cannot enter the
ring on the money basisfirst； because in the main it is wrong； and
secondly； I have not and cannot get the money。
I say； in the main； the use of money is wrong； but for certain
objects in a political contest； the use of some is both right and
indispensable。 With me； as with yourself； the long struggle has been
one of great pecuniary loss。
I now distinctly