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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
expressly declared the contrary； and you remember that in my Opening
speech I told him I had the book containing that decision here； and I
would thank him to lay his finger on the place where any such thing
was said。 He has occupied his hour and a half； and he has not
ventured to try to sustain his assertion。 He never will。 But he is
desirous of knowing how we are going to reverse that Dred Scott
decision。 Judge Douglas ought to know how。 Did not he and his
political friends find a way to reverse the decision of that same
court in favor of the constitutionality of the National Bank？ Didn't
they find a way to do it so effectually that they have reversed it as
completely as any decision ever was reversed； so far as its practical
operation is concerned？
And let me ask you； did n't Judge Douglas find a way to reverse the
decision of our Supreme Court when it decided that Carlin's father
old Governor Carlin had not the constitutional power to remove a
Secretary of State？ Did he not appeal to the 〃MOBS；〃 as he calls
them？ Did he not make speeches in the lobby to show how villainous
that decision was； and how it ought to be overthrown？ Did he not
succeed； too； in getting an act passed by the Legislature to have it
overthrown？ And did n't he himself sit down on that bench as one of
the five added judges； who were to overslaugh the four old ones；
getting his name of 〃judge〃 in that way； and no other？ If there is a
villainy in using disrespect or making opposition to Supreme Court
decisions； I commend it to Judge Douglas's earnest consideration。 I
know of no man in the State of Illinois who ought to know so well
about how much villainy it takes to oppose a decision of the Supreme
Court as our honorable friend Stephen A。 Douglas。
Judge Douglas also makes the declaration that I say the Democrats are
bound by the Dred Scott decision； while the Republicans are not。 In
the sense in which he argues； I never said it； but I will tell you
what I have said and what I do not hesitate to repeat to…day。 I have
said that as the Democrats believe that decision to be correct； and
that the extension of slavery is affirmed in the National
Constitution； they are bound to support it as such； and I will tell
you here that General Jackson once said each man was bound to support
the Constitution 〃as he understood it。〃 Now； Judge Douglas
understands the Constitution according to the Dred Scott decision；
and he is bound to support it as he understands it。 I understand it
another way； and therefore I am bound to support it in the way in
which I understand it。 And as Judge Douglas believes that decision
to be correct； I will remake that argument if I have time to do so。
Let me talk to some gentleman down there among you who looks me in
the face。 We will say you are a member of the Territorial
Legislature； and； like Judge Douglas； you believe that the right to
take and hold slaves there is a constitutional right The first thing
you do is to swear you will support the Constitution1； and all rights
guaranteed therein； that you will； whenever your neighbor needs your
legislation to support his constitutional rights； not withhold that
legislation。 If you withhold that necessary legislation for the
support of the Constitution and constitutional rights； do you not
commit perjury？ I ask every sensible man if that is not so？ That is
undoubtedly just so； say what you please。 Now； that is precisely
what Judge Douglas says； that this is a constitutional right。 Does
the Judge mean to say that the Territorial Legislature in legislating
may； by withholding necessary laws； or by passing unfriendly laws；
nullify that constitutional right？ Does he mean to say that？ Does
he mean to ignore the proposition so long and well established in
law； that what you cannot do directly； you cannot do indirectly？
Does he mean that？ The truth about the matter is this： Judge Douglas
has sung paeans to his 〃Popular Sovereignty〃 doctri