Screamers As a nation of

Screamers

As a nation of freemen, we must live through all time, or die by suicide. I think to lose Kentucky is nearly the same as to lose the whole game. Kentucky gone, we can not hold Missouri, nor, as I think, Maryland. These all against us, and the job on our hands is too large for us. September 22, 1861 Letter to Orville Browning The dogmas of the quiet past, are inadequate to the stormy present. The occasion is piled high with difficulty, and we must rise with the occasion. As our case is new, so we must think anew, and act anew. We must disentrall ourselves, and then we shall save our country. The proportions of this rebellion were not for a long time understood. I saw that it involved the greatest difficulties, and would call forth all the powers of the whole country. June 2, 1863 Reply to Members of the Presbyterian General Assembly In a word, I would not take any risk of being entangled upon the river, like an ox jumped half over a fence, and liable to be torn by dogs, front and rear, without a fair chance to gore one way or kick the other. June 5, 1863 Letter to Joseph Hooker Of our political revolution of 76, we all are justly proud. It has given us a degree of political freedom, far exceeding that of any other nation of the earth. In it the world has found a solution of the long mooted problem, as to the capability of man to govern himself. In it was the germ which has vegetated, and still is to grow and expand into the universal liberty of mankind. The legitimate object of government, is to do for a community of people, whatever they need to have done, but can not do, at all, or can not, so well do, for themselves in their separate, and individual capacities. July 1, 1854? Fragment on Government Our government rests in public opinion. Whoever can change public opinion, can change the government, practically just so much. December 10, 1856 Speech at Chicago Welcome, or unwelcome, agreeable, or disagreeable, whether this shall be an entire slave nation, is the issue before us. May 18, 1858 Fragment of a Speech As I would not be a slave, so I would not be a master. This expresses my idea of democracy. Whatever differs from this, to the extent of the difference, is no democracy. August 1, 1858 Fragment on Democracy I think we have fairly entered upon a durable struggle as to whether this nation is to ultimately become all slave or all free, and though I fall early in the contest, it is nothing if I shall have contributed, in the least degree, to the final rightful result. December 8, 1858 Letter to Sharpe Understanding the spirit of our institutions to aim at the elevation of men, I am opposed to whatever tends to degrade them. May 17, 1859 Letter to Theodore Canisius do not mean to say that this government is charged with the duty of redressing or preventing all the wrongs in the world; but I do think that it is charged with the duty of preventing and redressing all wrongs which are wrongs to itself. September 17, 1859 Speech at Cincinnati, Ohio This is essentially a Peoples contest. On the side of the Union, it is a struggle for maintaining in the world, that form, and substance of government, whose leading object is, to elevate the condition of men to lift artificial weights from all shoulders to clear the paths of laudable pursuit for all to afford all, an unfettered start, and a fair chance, in the race of life. July 4, 1861 Message to Congress May our children and our childrens children to a thousand generations, continue to enjoy the benefits conferred upon us by a united country, and have cause yet to rejoice under those glorious institutions bequeathed us by Washington and his compeers. October 4, 1862 Speech at Frederick, Maryland The restoration of the Rebel States to the Union must rest upon the principle of civil and political equality of both races; and it must be sealed by general amnesty. January 1864, Letter to James S. Wadsworth While we must, by all available means, prevent the overthrow of the government, we should avoid planting and cultivating too many thorns in the bosom of society. March 18, 1864 Letter to Edwin M. Stanton In this great struggle, this form of Government and every form of human right is endangered if our enemies succeed. There is more involved in this contest than is realized by every one. It is not merely for to-day, but for all time to come that we should perpetuate for our childrens children this great and free government, which we have enjoyed all our lives. – August 22, 1864 Speech to the One Hundred Sixty-sixth Ohio Regiment Nowhere in the world is presented a government of so much liberty and equality. To the humblest and poorest amongst us are held out the highest privileges and positions. The present moment finds me at the White House, yet there is as good a chance for your children as there was for my fathers. August 31, 1864 Speech to 148th Ohio Regiment Thoughtful men must feel that the fate of civilization upon this continent is involved in the issue of our contest. December 27, 1864 Letter to John Maclean When it comes to this I should prefer emigrating to some country where they make no pretence of loving liberty to Russia, for instance, where despotism can be taken pure, and without the base alloy of hypocracy.