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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
e
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