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remarks upon this subject uses the language which I will now read。
Speaking of me； the Judge says：
〃He goes on and insists that the Dred Scott decision would carry
slavery into the free States； notwithstanding the decision itself
says the contrary。〃 And he adds：
〃Mr。 Lincoln knows that there is no member of the Supreme Court that
holds that doctrine。 He knows that every one of them in their
opinions held the reverse。
I especially introduce this subject again for the purpose of saying
that I have the Dred Scott decision here； and I will thank Judge
Douglas to lay his finger upon the place in the entire opinions of
the court where any one of them 〃says the contrary。〃 It is very hard
to affirm a negative with entire confidence。 I say； however； that I
have examined that decision with a good deal of care； as a lawyer
examines a decision and； so far as I have been able to do so； the
court has nowhere in its opinions said that the States have the power
to exclude slavery； nor have they used other language substantially
that； I also say； so far as I can find； not one of the concurring
judges has said that the States can exclude slavery； nor said
anything that was substantially that。 The nearest approach that any
one of them has made to it； so far as I can find； was by Judge
Nelson； and the approach he made to it was exactly； in substance； the
Nebraska Bill；that the States had the exclusive power over the
question of slavery； so far as they are not limited by the
Constitution of the United States。 I asked the question； therefore；
if the non…concurring judges； McLean or Curtis； had asked to get an
express declaration that the States could absolutely exclude slavery
from their limits； what reason have we to believe that it would not
have been voted down by the majority of the judges； just as Chase's
amendment was voted down by Judge Douglas and his compeers when it
was offered to the Nebraska Bill。
Also； at Galesburgh； I said something in regard to those Springfield
resolutions that Judge Douglas had attempted to use upon me at
Ottawa； and commented at some length upon the fact that they were； as
presented； not genuine。 Judge Douglas in his reply to me seemed to
be somewhat exasperated。 He said he would never have believed that
Abraham Lincoln； as he kindly called me； would have attempted such a
thing as I had attempted upon that occasion； and among other
expressions which he used toward me； was that I dared to say forgery；
that I had dared to say forgery ＇turning to Judge Douglas＇。 Yes；
Judge； I did dare to say forgery。 But in this political canvass the
Judge ought to remember that I was not the first who dared to say
forgery。 At Jacksonville； Judge Douglas made a speech in answer to
something said by Judge Trumbull； and at the close of what he said
upon that subject； he dared to say that Trumbull had forged his
evidence。 He said； too； that he should not concern himself with
Trumbull any more； but thereafter he should hold Lincoln responsible
for the slanders upon him。 When I met him at Charleston after that；
although I think that I should not have noticed the subject if he had
not said he would hold me responsible for it； I spread out before him
the statements of the evidence that Judge Trumbull had used； and I
asked Judge Douglas； piece by piece； to put his finger upon one piece
of all that evidence that he would say was a forgery！ When I went
through with each and every piece； Judge Douglas did not dare then to
say that any piece of it was a forgery。 So it seems that there are
some things that Judge Douglas dares to do； and some that he dares
not to do。
＇A voice： It is the same thing with you。＇
Yes； sir； it is the same thing with me。 I do dare to say forgery
when it is true； and don't dare to say forgery when it is false。 Now
I will say here to this audience and to Judge Douglas I have not
dared to say he committed a forgery； and I never shall until I know
it； but I did dare to sayjust to suggest to the Judgethat a
forgery had been committed； which by his own showing had been traced
to him and two of his friends。 I dared to suggest to him that he had
expressly promised in one of his public speeches to investigate that
matter； and I dared to suggest to him that there was an implied
promise that when he investigated it he would make known the result。
I dared to suggest to the Judge that he could not expect to be quite
clear of suspicion of that fraud； for since the time that promise was
made he had been with those friends； and had not kept his promise in
regard to the investigation and the report upon it。 I am not a very
daring man； but I dared that much； Judge； and I am not much scared
about it yet。 When the Judge says he would n't have believed of
Abraham Lincoln that he would have made such an attempt as that he
reminds me of the fact that he entered upon this canvass with the
purpose to treat me courteously； that touched me somewhat。 It sets
me to thinking。 I was aware； when it was first agreed that Judge
Douglas and I were to have these seven joint discussions； that they
were the successive acts of a drama； perhaps I should say； to be
enacted； not merely in the face of audiences like this； but in the
face of the nation； and to some extent； by my relation to him； and
not from anything in myself； in the face of the world； and I am
anxious that they should be conducted with dignity and in the good
temper which would be befitting the vast audiences before which it
was conducted。 But when Judge Douglas got home from Washington and
made his first speech in Chicago； the evening afterward I made some
sort of a reply to it。 His second speech was made at Bloomington； in
which he commented upon my speech at Chicago and said that I had used
language ingeniously contrived to conceal my intentions； or words to
that effect。 Now； I understand that this is an imputation upon my
veracity and my candor。 I do not know what the Judge understood by
it； but in our first discussion； at Ottawa； he led off by charging a
bargain； somewhat corrupt in its character； upon Trumbull and
myself；that we had entered into a bargain； one of the terms of
which was that Trumbull was to Abolitionize the old Democratic party；
and I （Lincoln） was to Abolitionize the old Whig party； I pretending
to be as good an old…line Whig as ever。 Judge Douglas may not
understand that he implicated my truthfulness and my honor when he
said I was doing one thing and pretending another； and I
misunderstood him if he thought he was treating me in a dignified
way； as a man of honor and truth； as he now claims he was disposed to
treat me。 Even after that time； at Galesburgh； when he brings
forward an extract from a speech made at Chicago and an extract from
a speech made at Charleston； to prove that I was trying to play a
double part； that I was trying to cheat the public； and get votes
upon one set of principles at one place； and upon another set of
principles at another place；I do not understand but what he
impeaches my honor； my veracity； and my candor； and because he does
this； I do not understand that I am bound； if I see a truthful ground
for it； to keep my hands off of him。 As soon as I learned that Judge
Douglas was disposed to treat me in this way； I signified in one of
my speeches that I should be driven to draw upon whatever of humble
resources I might have；to adopt a new course with him。 I was not
entirely sure that I should be able to hold my own with him； but I at
least had the purpose made to do as well as I could upon him； and now
I say that I will not be the first to cry 〃Hold。〃 I think it
originated with the Judge； and when he quits； I probably will。 But I
shall not ask any favors at all。 He asks me； or he asks the
audience； if I wish to push this matter to the point of personal
difficulty。 I tell him； no。 He did not make a mistake； in one of
his early speeches； when he called me an 〃amiable〃 man； though
perhaps he did when he called me an 〃intelligent〃 man。 It really
hurts me very much to suppose that I have wronged anybody on earth。
I again tell him； no！ I very much prefer； when this canvass shall be
over； however it may result； that we at least part without any bitter
recollections of personal difficulties。
The Judge； in his concluding speech at Galesburgh； says that I was
pushing this matter to a personal difficulty； to avoid the
responsibility for the enormity of my principles。 I say to the Judge
and this audience； now； that I will again state our principles； as
well as I hastily can； in all their enormity； and if the Judge
hereafter chooses to confine himself to a war upon these principles；
he will probably not find me departing from the same course。
We have in this nation this element of domestic slavery。 It is a
matter of absolute certainty that it is a disturbing element。 It is
the opinion of all the gr