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And now let me say a few words in regard to Douglas's great hobby of
negro equality。 He thinkshe says at leastthat the Republican
party is in favor of allowing whites and blacks to intermarry； and
that a man can't be a good Republican unless he is willing to elevate
black men to office and to associate with them on terms of perfect
equality。 He knows that we advocate no such doctrines as these； but
he cares not how much he misrepresents us if he can gain a few votes
by so doing。 To show you what my opinion of negro equality was in
times past； and to prove to you that I stand on that question where I
always stood； I will read you a few extracts from a speech that was
made by me in Peoria in 1854。 It was made in reply to one of Judge
Douglas's speeches。
（Mr。 Lincoln then read a number of extracts which had the ring of the
true metal。 We have rarely heard anything with which we have been
more pleased。 And the audience after hearing the extracts read； and
comparing their conservative sentiments with those now advocated by
Mr。 Lincoln； testified their approval by loud applause。 How any
reasonable man can hear one of Mr。 Lincoln's speeches without being
converted to Republicanism is something that we can't account for。
Ed。）
Slavery； continued Mr。 Lincoln； is not a matter of little importance；
it overshadows every other question in which we are interested。 It
has divided the Methodist and Presbyterian churches； and has sown
discord in the American Tract Society。 The churches have split and
the society will follow their example before long。 So it will be
seen that slavery is agitated in the religious as well as in the
political world。
Judge Douglas is very much afraid in the triumph that the Republican
party will lead to a general mixture of the white and black races。
Perhaps I am wrong in saying that he is afraid； so I will correct
myself by saying that he pretends to fear that the success of our
party will result in the amalgamation of the blacks and whites。 I
think I can show plainly； from documents now before me； that Judge
Douglas's fears are groundless。 The census of 1800 tells us that in
that year there were over four hundred thousand mulattoes in the
United States。 Now let us take what is called an Abolition State
the Republican； slavery…hating State of New Hampshireand see how
many mulattoes we can find within her borders。 The number amounts to
just one hundred and eighty…four。 In the Old Dominionin the
Democratic and aristocratic State of Virginiathere were a few more
mulattoes than the Census…takers found in New Hampshire。 How many do
you suppose there were？ Seventy…nine thousand； seven hundred and
seventy…fivetwenty…three thousand more than there were in all the
free States！ In the slave States there were in 1800； three
hundred and forty…eight thousand mulattoes all of home production；
and in the free States there were less than sixty thousand mulattoes
and a large number of them were imported from the South。
FRAGMENT OF SPEECH AT EDWARDSVILLE； ILL。；
SEPT。 13； 1858。
I have been requested to give a concise statement of the difference；
as I understand it； between the Democratic and Republican parties； on
the leading issues of the campaign。 This question has been put to me
by a gentleman whom I do not know。 I do not even know whether he is
a friend of mine or a supporter of Judge Douglas in this contest； nor
does that make any difference。 His question is a proper one。 Lest I
should forget it； I will give you my answer before proceeding with
the line of argument I have marked out for this discussion。
The difference between the Republican and the Democratic parties on
the leading issues of this contest； as I understand it； is that the
former consider slavery a moral； social and political wrong； while
the latter do not consider it either a moral； a social or a political
wrong； and the action of each； as respects the growth of the country
and the expansion of our population； is squared to meet these views。
I will not affirm that the Democratic party consider slavery morally；
socially and politically right； though their tendency to that view
has； in my opinion； been constant and unmistakable for the past five
years。 I prefer to take； as the accepted maxim of the party； the
idea put forth by Judge Douglas； that he don't care whether slavery
is voted down or voted up。〃 I am quite willing to believe that many
Democrats would prefer that slavery should be always voted down； and
I know that some prefer that it be always voted up〃； but I have a
right to insist that their action； especially if it be their constant
action； shall determine their ideas and preferences on this subject。
Every measure of the Democratic party of late years； bearing directly
or indirectly on the slavery question； has corresponded with this
notion of utter indifference whether slavery or freedom shall outrun
in the race of empire across to the Pacificevery measure； I say； up
to the Dred Scott decision； where； it seems to me； the idea is boldly
suggested that slavery is better than freedom。 The Republican party；
on the contrary； hold that this government was instituted to secure
the blessings of freedom； and that slavery is an unqualified evil to
the negro； to the white man； to the soil； and to the State。
Regarding it as an evil； they will not molest it in the States where
it exists； they will not overlook the constitutional guards which our
fathers placed around it； they will do nothing that can give proper
offence to those who hold slaves by legal sanction； but they will use
every constitutional method to prevent the evil from becoming larger
and involving more negroes； more white men； more soil； and more
States in its deplorable consequences。 They will； if possible； place
it where the public mind shall rest in the belief that it is in
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 t