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course of ultimate peaceable extinction in God's own good time。 And
to this end they will； if possible； restore the government to the
policy of the fathers； the policy of preserving the new Territories
from the baneful influence of human bondage； as the Northwestern
Territories were sought to be preserved by the Ordinance of 1787； and
the Compromise Act of 1820。 They will oppose； in all its length and
breadth； the modern Democratic idea； that slavery is as good as
freedom； and ought to have room for expansion all over the continent；
if people can be found to carry it。 All； or nearly all； of Judge
Douglas's arguments are logical； if you admit that slavery is as good
and as right as freedom； and not one of them is worth a rush if you
deny it。 This is the difference； as I understand it； between the
Republican and Democratic parties。
My friends； I have endeavored to show you the logical consequences of
the Dred Scott decision； which holds that the people of a Territory
cannot prevent the establishment of slavery in their midst。 I have
stated what cannot be gainsaid； that the grounds upon which this
decision is made are equally applicable to the free States as to the
free Territories； and that the peculiar reasons put forth by Judge
Douglas for indorsing this decision commit him； in advance； to the
next decision and to all other decisions corning from the same
source。 And when； by all these means； you have succeeded in
dehumanizing the negro； when you have put him down and made it
impossible for him to be but as the beasts of the field； when you
have extinguished his soul in this world and placed him where the ray
of hope is blown out as in the darkness of the damned； are you quite
sure that the demon you have roused will not turn and rend you？ What
constitutes the bulwark of our own liberty and independence？ It is
not our frowning battlements； our bristling sea coasts； our army and
our navy。 These are not our reliance against tyranny All of those
may be turned against us without making us weaker for the struggle。
Our reliance is in the love of liberty which God has planted in us。
Our defense is in the spirit which prizes liberty as the heritage of
all men； in all lands everywhere。 Destroy this spirit and you have
planted the seeds of despotism at your own doors。 Familiarize
yourselves with the chains of bondage and you prepare your own limbs
to wear them。 Accustomed to trample on the rights of others； you
have lost the genius of your own independence and become the fit
subjects of the first cunning tyrant who rises among you。 And let me
tell you； that all these things are prepared for you by the teachings
of history； if the elections shall promise that the next Dred Scott
decision and all future decisions will be quietly acquiesced in by
the people。
VERSE TO 〃LINNIE 〃
September 30？； 1858。
TO 〃LINNIE〃：
A sweet plaintive song did I hear
And I fancied that she was the singer。
May emotions as pure as that song set astir
Be the wont that the future shall bring her。
NEGROES ARE MEN
TO J。 U。 BROWN。
SPRINGFIELD； OCT 18； 1858
HON。 J。 U。 BROWN。
MY DEAR SIR：I do not perceive how I can express myself more plainly
than I have in the fore…going extracts。 In four of them I have
expressly disclaimed all intention to bring about social and
political equality between the white and black races and in all the
rest I have done the same thing by clear implication。
I have made it equally plain that I think the negro is included in
the word 〃men〃 used in the Declaration of Independence。
I believe the declaration that 〃all men are created equal 〃is the
great fundamental principle upon which our free institutions rest；
that negro slavery is violative of that principle； but that； by our
frame of government； that principle has not been made one of legal
obligation； that by our frame of government； States which have
slavery are to retain it； or surrender it at their own pleasure； and
that all othersindividuals； free States and national Government
are constitutionally bound to leave them alone about it。
I believe our Government was thus framed because of the necessity
springing from the actual presence of slavery； when it was framed。
That such necessity does not exist in the Territories when slavery is
not present。
In his Mendenhall speech Mr。 Clay says： 〃Now as an abstract principle
there is no doubt of the truth of that declaration （all men created
equal）； and it is desirable； in the original construction of society；
to keep it in view as a great fundamental principle。〃
Again； in the same speech Mr。 Clay says： 〃If a state of nature
existed and we were about to lay the foundations of society； no man
would be more strongly opposed than I should to incorporate the
institution of slavery among its elements。〃
Exactly so。 In our new free Territories； a state of nature does
exist。 In them Congress lays the foundations of society； and in
laying those foundations； I say； with Mr。 Clay； it is desirable that
the declaration of the equality of all men shall be kept in view as a
great fundamental principle； and that Congress； which lays the
foundations of society； should； like Mr。 Clay； be strongly opposed to
the incorporation of slavery and its elements。
But it does not follow that social and political equality between
whites and blacks must be incorporated because slavery must not。 The
declaration does not so require。
Yours as ever；
A。 LINCOLN
＇Newspaper cuttings of Lincoln's speeches at Peoria； in 1854； at
Springfield； Ottawa； Chicago； and Charleston； in 1858。 They were
pasted in a little book in which the above letter was also written。＇
TO A。 SYMPSON。
BLANDINSVILLE； Oct 26； 1858
A。 SYMPSON； Esq。
DEAR SIR：Since parting with you this morning I heard some things
which make me believe that Edmunds and Morrill will spend this week
among the National Democrats； trying to induce them to content
themselves by voting for Jake Davis； and then to vote for the Douglas
candidates for senator and representative。 Have this headed off； if
you can。 Call Wagley's attention to it and have him and the National
Democrat for Rep。 to counteract it as far as they can。
Yours as ever；
A。 LINCOLN。
SENATORIAL ELECTION LOST AND OUT OF MONEY
TO N。 B。 JUDD。
SPRINGFIELD； NOVEMBER 16； 1858
HON。 N。 B。 JUDD
DEAR SIR：Yours of the 15th is just received。 I wrote you the same
day。 As to the pecuniary matter； I am willing to pay according to my
ability； but I am the poorest hand living to get others to pay。 I
have been on expenses so long without earning anything that I am
absolutely without money now for even household purposes。 Still； if
you can put in two hundred and fifty dollars for me toward
discharging the debt of the committee； I will allow it when you and I
settle the private matter between us。 This； with what I have already
paid； and with an outstanding note of mine； will exceed my
subscription of five hundred dollars。 This； too； is exclusive of my
ordinary expenses during the campaign； all of which； being added to
my loss of time and business； bears pretty heavily upon one no better
off in ＇this＇ world's goods than I； but as I had the post of honor；
it is not for me to be over nice。 You are feeling badly；〃And this
too shall pass away；〃 never fear。
Yours as ever；
A。 LINCOLN。
THE FIGHT MUST GO ON
TO H。 ASBURY。
SPRINGFIELD； November 19； 1858。
HENRY ASBURY； Esq。
DEAR SIR：Yours of the 13th was received some days ago。 The fight
must go on。 The cause of civil liberty must not be surrendered at
the end of one or even one hundred defeats。 Douglas had the
ingenuity to be supported in the late contest both as the best means
to break down and to uphold the slave in