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have marked out for myself； that I shall not have to dwell at very
great length upon this subject。
As this was done in the Judge's opening speech at Galesburgh； I had
an opportunity； as I had the middle speech then； of saying something
in answer to it。 He brought forward a quotation or two from a speech
of mine delivered at Chicago； and then； to contrast with it； he
brought forward an extract from a speech of mine at Charleston； in
which he insisted that I was greatly inconsistent； and insisted that
his conclusion followed； that I was playing a double part； and
speaking in one region one way； and in another region another way。 I
have not time now to dwell on this as long as I would like； and wish
only now to requote that portion of my speech at Charleston which the
Judge quoted； and then make some comments upon it。 This he quotes
from me as being delivered at Charleston； and I believe correctly：
〃I will say； then； that I am not； nor ever have been； in favor of
bringing about in any way the social and political equality of the
white and black races； that I am not； nor ever have been； in favor of
making voters or jurors of negroes； nor of qualifying them to hold
office； nor to intermarry with white people； and I will say； in
addition to this； that there is a physical difference between the
white and black races which will forever forbid the two races living
together on terms of social and political equality。 And inasmuch as
they cannot so live while they do remain together； there must be the
position of superior and inferior。 I am as much as any other man in
favor of having the superior position assigned to the white race。〃
This； I believe； is the entire quotation from Charleston speech； as
Judge Douglas made it his comments are as follows：
〃Yes； here you find men who hurrah for Lincoln； and say he is right
when he discards all distinction between races； or when he declares
that he discards the doctrine that there is such a thing as a
superior and inferior race； and Abolitionists are required and
expected to vote for Mr。 Lincoln because he goes for the equality of
races； holding that in the Declaration of Independence the white man
and negro were declared equal； and endowed by divine law with
equality。 And down South； with the old…line Whigs； with the
Kentuckians； the Virginians and the Tennesseeans； he tells you that
there is a physical difference between the races； making the one
superior； the other inferior； and he is in favor of maintaining the
superiority of the white race over the negro。〃
Those are the Judges comments。 Now； I wish to show you that a month；
or only lacking three days of a month； before I made the speech at
Charleston； which the Judge quotes from； he had himself heard me say
substantially the same thing It was in our first meeting； at Ottawa…
…and I will say a word about where it was； and the atmosphere it was
in； after a whilebut at our first meeting； at Ottawa； I read an
extract from an old speech of mine； made nearly four years ago； not
merely to show my sentiments； but to show that my sentiments were
long entertained and openly expressed； in which extract I expressly
declared that my own feelings would not admit a social and political
equality between the white and black races； and that even if my own
feelings would admit of it； I still knew that the public sentiment of
the country would not； and that such a thing was an utter
impossibility； or substantially that。 That extract from my old
speech the reporters by some sort of accident passed over； and it was
not reported。 I lay no blame upon anybody。 I suppose they thought
that I would hand it over to them； and dropped reporting while I was
giving it； but afterward went away without getting it from me。 At
the end of that quotation from my old speech； which I read at Ottawa；
I made the comments which were reported at that time； and which I
will now read； and ask you to notice how very nearly they are the
same as Judge Douglas says were delivered by me down in Egypt。 After
reading； I added these words：
〃Now； gentlemen； I don't want to read at any great length； but this
is the true complexion of all I have ever said in regard to the
institution of slavery or the black race； and this is the whole of
it： anything that argues me into his idea of perfect social and
political equality with the negro； is but a specious and fantastical
arrangement of words by which a man can prove a horse…chestnut to be
a chestnut horse。 I will say here； while upon this subject； that I
have no purpose； directly or indirectly； to interfere with the
institution in the States where it exists。 I believe I have no right
to do so。 I have no inclination to do so。 I have no purpose to
introduce political and social equality between the white and black
races。 There is a physical difference between the two which； in my
judgment； will probably forever forbid their living together on the
footing of perfect equality； and inasmuch as it becomes a necessity
that there must be a difference； I； as well as Judge Douglas； am in
favor of the race to which I belong having the superior position。 I
have never said anything to the contrary； but I hold that；
notwithstanding all this； there is no reason in the world why the
negro is not entitled to all the rights enumerated in the Declaration
of Independence；the right of life； liberty； and the pursuit of
happiness。 I hold that he is as much entitled to these as the white
man。 I agree with Judge Douglas that he is not my equal in many
respects； certainly not in color； perhaps not in intellectual and
moral endowments； but in the right to eat the bread； without the
leave of anybody else； which his own hand earns； he is my equal and
the equal of Judge Douglas； and the equal of every other man。〃
I have chiefly introduced this for the purpose of meeting the Judge's
charge that the quotation he took from my Charleston speech was what
I would say down South among the Kentuckians； the Virginians； etc。；
but would not say in the regions in which was supposed to be more of
the Abolition element。 I now make this comment： That speech from
which I have now read the quotation； and which is there given
correctlyperhaps too much so for good tastewas made away up North
in the Abolition District of this State par excellence； in the
Lovejoy District； in the personal presence of Lovejoy； for he was on
the stand with us when I made it。 It had been made and put in print
in that region only three days less than a month before the speech
made at Charleston； the like of which Judge Douglas thinks I would
not make where there was any Abolition element。 I only refer to this
matter to say that I am altogether unconscious of having attempted
any double…dealing anywhere； that upon one occasion I may say one
thing； and leave other things unsaid； and vice versa； but that I have
said anything on one occasion that is inconsistent with what I have
said elsewhere； I deny； at least I deny it so far as the intention is
concerned。 I find that I have devoted to this topic a larger portion
of my time than I had intended。 I wished to show； but I will pass it
upon this occasion； that in the sentiment I have occasionally
advanced upon the Declaration of Independence I am entirely borne out
by the sentiments advanced by our old Whig leader； Henry Clay； and I
have the book here to show it from but because I have already
occupied more time than I intended to do on that topic； I pass over
it。
At Galesburgh； I tried to show that by the Dred Scott decision；
pushed to its legitimate consequences； slavery would be established
in all the States as well as in the Territories。 I did this because；
upon a former occasion； I had asked Judge Douglas whether； if the
Supreme Court should make a decision declaring that the States had
not the power to exclude slavery from their limits； he would adopt
and follow that decision as a rule of political action； and because
he had not directly answered that question； but had merely contented
himself with sneering at it； I again introduced it； and tried to show
that the conclusion that I stated followed inevitably and logically
from the proposition already decided by the court。 Judge Douglas had
the privilege of replying to me at Galesburgh； and again he gave me
no direct answer as to whether he would or would not sustain such a
decision if made。 I give him his third chance to say yes or no。 He
is not obliged to do either； probably he will not do either； but I
give him the third chance。 I tried to show then that this result；
this conclusion； inevitably followed from the point already decided
by the court。 The Judge； in his reply； again sneers at the thought
of the court making any such decision； and in the course of his
remarks upon this subject uses the language which I will now read。
Speaking of me； the Judge says：
〃He goe