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suddenly in a satisfactory way； and to disregard the constitutional
obligations thrown about it； that man is misplaced if he is on our
platform。 We disclaim sympathy with him in practical action。 He is
not placed properly with us。
On this subject of treating it as a wrong； and limiting its spread；
let me say a word。 Has anything ever threatened the existence of
this Union save and except this very institution of slavery？ What is
it that we hold most dear amongst us？ Our own liberty and
prosperity。 What has ever threatened our liberty and prosperity；
save and except this institution of slavery？ If this is true； how do
you propose to improve the condition of things by enlarging slavery；
by spreading it out and making it bigger？ You may have a wen or
cancer upon your person； and not be able to cut it out； lest you
bleed to death； but surely it is no way to cure it； to engraft it and
spread it over your whole body。 That is no proper way of treating
what you regard a wrong。 You see this peaceful way of dealing with
it as a wrong； restricting the spread of it； and not allowing it to
go into new countries where it has not already existed。 That is the
peaceful way； the old…fashioned way； the way in which the fathers
themselves set us the example。
On the other hand； I have said there is a sentiment which treats it
as not being wrong。 That is the Democratic sentiment of this day。 I
do not mean to say that every man who stands within that range
positively asserts that it is right。 That class will include all who
positively assert that it is right； and all who； like Judge Douglas；
treat it as indifferent and do not say it is either right or wrong。
These two classes of men fall within the general class of those who
do not look upon it as a wrong。 And if there be among you anybody
who supposes that he； as a Democrat； can consider himself 〃as much
opposed to slavery as anybody；〃 I would like to reason with him。 You
never treat it as a wrong。 What other thing that you consider as a
wrong do you deal with as you deal with that？ Perhaps you say it is
wrongbut your leader never does； and you quarrel with anybody who
says it is wrong。 Although you pretend to say so yourself； you can
find no fit place to deal with it as a wrong。 You must not say
anything about it in the free States； because it is not here。 You
must not say anything about it in the slave States； because it is
there。 You must not say anything about it in the pulpit； because
that is religion； and has nothing to do with it。 You must not say
anything about it in politics； because that will disturb the security
of 〃my place。〃 There is no place to talk about it as being a wrong；
although you say yourself it is a wrong。 But； finally； you will
screw yourself up to the belief that if the people of the slave
States should adopt a system of gradual emancipation on the slavery
question； you would be in favor of it。 You would be in favor of it。
You say that is getting it in the right place； and you would be glad
to see it succeed。 But you are deceiving yourself。 You all know
that Frank Blair and Gratz Brown； down there in St。 Louis； undertook
to introduce that system in Missouri。 They fought as valiantly as
they could for the system of gradual emancipation which you pretend
you would be glad to see succeed。 Now； I will bring you to the test。
After a hard fight they were beaten； and when the news came over
here； you threw up your hats and hurrahed for Democracy。 More than
that； take all the argument made in favor of the system you have
proposed； and it carefully excludes the idea that there is anything
wrong in the institution of slavery。 The arguments to sustain that
policy carefully exclude it。 Even here to…day you heard Judge
Douglas quarrel with me because I uttered a wish that it might
sometime come to an end。 Although Henry Clay could say he wished
every slave in the United States was in the country of his ancestors；
I am denounced by those pretending to respect Henry Clay for uttering
a wish that it might sometime； in some peaceful way； come to an end。
The Democratic policy in regard to that institution will not tolerate
the merest breath； the slightest hint； of the least degree of wrong
about it。 Try it by some of Judge Douglas's arguments。 He says he
〃don't care whether it is voted up or voted down〃 in the Territories。
I do not care myself； in dealing with that expression； whether it is
intended to be expressive of his individual sentiments on the
subject； or only of the national policy he desires to have
established。 It is alike valuable for my purpose。 Any man can say
that who does not see anything wrong in slavery； but no man can
logically say it who does see a wrong in it； because no man can
logically say he don't care whether a wrong is voted up or voted
down。 He may say he don't care whether an indifferent thing is voted
up or down； but he must logically have a choice between a right thing
and a wrong thing。 He contends that whatever community wants slaves
has a right to have them。 So they have； if it is not a wrong。 But
if it is a wrong； he cannot say people have a right to do wrong。 He
says that upon the score of equality slaves should be allowed to go
in a new Territory； like other property。 This is strictly logical if
there is no difference between it and other property。 If it and
other property are equal； this argument is entirely logical。 But if
you insist that one is wrong and the other right； there is no use to
institute a comparison between right and wrong。 You may turn over
everything in the Democratic policy from beginning to end； whether in
the shape it takes on the statute book； in the shape it takes in the
Dred Scott decision； in the shape it takes in conversation； or the
shape it takes in short maxim…like arguments；it everywhere
carefully excludes the idea that there is anything wrong in it。
That is the real issue。 That is the issue that will continue in this
country when these poor tongues of Judge Douglas and myself shall be
silent。 It is the eternal struggle between these two principles
right and wrongthroughout the world。 They are the two principles
that have stood face to face from the beginning of time； and will
ever continue to struggle。 The one is the common right of humanity；
and the other the divine right of kings。 It is the same principle in
whatever shape it develops itself。 It is the same spirit that says；
〃You work and toil and earn bread； and I'll eat it。〃 No matter in
what shape it comes； whether from the mouth of a king who seeks to
bestride the people of his own nation and live by the fruit of their
labor； or from one race of men as an apology for enslaving another
race； it is the same tyrannical principle。 I was glad to express my
gratitude at Quincy； and I re…express it here； to Judge Douglas；
that he looks to no end of the institution of slavery。 That will
help the people to see where the struggle really is。 It will
hereafter place with us all men who really do wish the wrong may have
an end。 And whenever we can get rid of the fog which obscures the
real question； when we can get Judge Douglas and his friends to avow
a policy looking to its perpetuation；we can get out from among that
class of men and bring them to the side of those who treat it as a
wrong。 Then there will soon be an end of it； and that end will be
its 〃ultimate extinction。〃 Whenever the issue can be distinctly
made； and all extraneous matter thrown out so that men can fairly see
the real difference between the parties； this controversy will soon
be settled； and it will be done peaceably too。 There will be no war；
no violence。 It will be placed again where the wisest and best men
of the world placed it。 Brooks of South Carolina once declared that
when this Constitution was framed its framers did not look to the
institution existing until this day。 When he said this； I think he
stated a fact that is fully borne out by the history of the times。
But he also said they were better and wiser men than the men of these
days； yet the men of these days had experience which they had not；
and by the invention of the cotton…gin it became a necessity in this
country that slavery should be perpetual。 I now say that； willingly
or unwillinglypurposely or without purpose； Judge Douglas has been
the most prominent instrument in changing the position of the
institution of slavery；which the fathers of the government expected
to come to an end ere this； and putting it upon Brooks's cotton…gin
basis； placing it where he openly confesses he has no desire there
shall ever be an end of it。
I understand I have ten minutes yet。 I will employ it in saying
something about this argument Judge Douglas uses； while he sustains
the Dred Scott decision； that the people of the Territories can still
somehow exclude slavery。 The first thing I ask atten