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the writings-4-第20部分

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to get up a system of gradual emancipation in Missouri; had an

election in August; and got beat; and you; Mr。 Democrat; threw up

your hat; and hallooed 〃Hurrah for Democracy!〃 So I say; again; that

in regard to the arguments that are made; when Judge Douglas Says he

〃don't care whether slavery is voted up or voted down;〃 whether he

means that as an individual expression of sentiment; or only as a

sort of statement of his views on national policy; it is alike true

to say that he can thus argue logically if he don't see anything

wrong in it; but he cannot say so logically if he admits that slavery

is wrong。  He cannot say that he would as soon see a wrong voted up

as voted down。  When Judge Douglas says that whoever or whatever

community wants slaves; they have a right to have them; he is

perfectly logical; if there is nothing wrong in the institution; but

if you admit that it is wrong; he cannot logically say that anybody

has a right to do wrong。  When he says that slave property and horse

and hog property are alike to be allowed to go into the Territories;

upon the principles of equality; he is reasoning truly; if there is

no difference between them as property; but if the one is property

held rightfully; and the other is wrong; then there is no equality

between the right and wrong; so that; turn it in anyway you can; in

all the arguments sustaining the Democratic policy; and in that

policy itself; there is a careful; studied exclusion of the idea that

there is anything wrong in slavery。  Let us understand this。  I am

not; just here; trying to prove that we are right; and they are

wrong。  I have been stating where we and they stand; and trying to

show what is the real difference between us; and I now say that

whenever we can get the question distinctly stated; can get all these

men who believe that slavery is in some of these respects wrong to

stand and act with us in treating it as a wrong;then; and not till

then; I think we will in some way come to an end of this slavery

agitation。









Mr。 LINCOLN'S REJOINDER。



MY FRIENDS:Since Judge Douglas has said to you in his conclusion

that he had not time in an hour and a half to answer all I had said

in an hour; it follows of course that I will not be able to answer in

half an hour all that he said in an hour and a half。



I wish to return to Judge Douglas my profound thanks for his public

annunciation here to…day; to be put on record; that his system of

policy in regard to the institution of slavery contemplates that it

shall last forever。  We are getting a little nearer the true issue of

this controversy; and I am profoundly grateful for this one sentence。

Judge Douglas asks you; Why cannot the institution of slavery; or

rather; why cannot the nation; part slave and part free; continue as

our fathers made it; forever?  In the first place; I insist that our

fathers did not make this nation half slave and half free; or part

slave and part free。  I insist that they found the institution of

slavery existing here。  They did not make it so but they left it so

because they knew of no way to get rid of it at that time。  When

Judge Douglas undertakes to say that; as a matter of choice; the

fathers of the government made this nation part slave and part free;

he assumes what is historically a falsehood。  More than that: when

the fathers of the government cut off the source of slavery by the

abolition of the slave…trade; and adopted a system of restricting it

from the new Territories where it had not existed; I maintain that

they placed it where they understood; and all sensible men

understood; it was in the course of ultimate extinction; and when

Judge Douglas asks me why it cannot continue as our fathers made it;

I ask him why he and his friends could not let it remain as our

fathers made it?



It is precisely all I ask of him in relation to the institution of

slavery; that it shall be placed upon the basis that our fathers

placed it upon。  Mr。 Brooks; of South Carolina; once said; and truly

said; that when this government was established; no one expected the

institution of slavery to last until this day; and that the men who

formed this government were wiser and better than the men of these

days; but the men of these days had experience which the fathers had

not; and that experience had taught them the invention of the

cotton…gin; and this had made the perpetuation of the institution of

slavery a necessity in this country。  Judge Douglas could not let it

stand upon the basis which our fathers placed it; but removed it; and

put it upon the cotton…gin basis。  It is a question; therefore; for

him and his friends to answer; why they could not let it remain where

the fathers of the government originally placed it。  I hope nobody

has understood me as trying to sustain the doctrine that we have a

right to quarrel with Kentucky; or Virginia; or any of the slave

States; about the institution of slavery;thus giving the Judge an

opportunity to be eloquent and valiant against us in fighting for

their rights。  I expressly declared in my opening speech that I had

neither the inclination to exercise; nor the belief in the existence

of; the right to interfere with the States of Kentucky or Virginia in

doing as they pleased with slavery Or any other existing institution。

Then what becomes of all his eloquence in behalf of the rights of

States; which are assailed by no living man?



But I have to hurry on; for I have but a half hour。  The Judge has

informed me; or informed this audience; that the Washington Union is

laboring for my election to the United States Senate。  This is news

to me;not very ungrateful news either。  'Turning to Mr。 W。  H。

Carlin; who was on the stand'I hope that Carlin will be elected to

the State Senate; and will vote for me。  'Mr。 Carlin shook his head。'

Carlin don't fall in; I perceive; and I suppose he will not do much

for me; but I am glad of all the support I can get; anywhere; if I

can get it without practicing any deception to obtain it。  In respect

to this large portion of Judge Douglas's speech in which he tries to

show that in the controversy between himself and the Administration

party he is in the right; I do not feel myself at all competent or

inclined to answer him。  I say to him; 〃Give it to them;give it to

them just all you can!〃 and; on the other hand; I say to Carlin; and

Jake Davis; and to this man Wogley up here in Hancock; 〃Give it to

Douglas; just pour it into him!



Now; in regard to this matter of the Dred Scott decision; I wish to

say a word or two。  After all; the Judge will not say whether; if a

decision is made holding that the people of the States cannot exclude

slavery; he will support it or not。  He obstinately refuses to say

what he will do in that case。  The judges of the Supreme Court as

obstinately refused to say what they would do on this subject。

Before this I reminded him that at Galesburgh he said the judges had

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