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institutions of our sister States； be they free or slave States。 I
declared then； and I now re…declare； that I have as little
inclination to interfere with the institution of slavery where it now
exists； through the instrumentality of the General Government； or any
other instrumentality； as I believe we have no power to do so。 I
accidentally used this expression： I had no purpose of entering into
the slave States to disturb the institution of slavery。 So； upon the
first occasion that Judge Douglas got an opportunity to reply to me；
he passed by the whole body of what I had said upon that subject； and
seized upon the particular expression of mine that I had no purpose
of entering into the slave States to disturb the institution of
slavery。 〃Oh； no；〃 said he； 〃he ＇Lincoln＇ won't enter into the slave
States to disturb the institution of slavery； he is too prudent a man
to do such a thing as that； he only means that he will go on to the
line between the free and slave States； and shoot over at them。 This
is all he means to do。 He means to do them all the harm he can； to
disturb them all he can； in such a way as to keep his own hide in
perfect safety。〃
Well； now； I did not think； at that time； that that was either a very
dignified or very logical argument but so it was； I had to get along
with it as well as I could。
It has occurred to…me here to…night that if I ever do shoot over the
line at the people on the other side of the line into a slave State；
and purpose to do so； keeping my skin safe； that I have now about the
best chance I shall ever have。 I should not wonder if there are some
Kentuckians about this audiencewe are close to Kentucky； and
whether that be so or not； we are on elevated ground； and； by
speaking distinctly； I should not wonder if some of the Kentuckians
would hear me on the other side of the river。 For that reason I
propose to address a portion of what I have to say to the
Kentuckians。
I say； then； in the first place； to the Kentuckians； that I am what
they call； as I understand it； a 〃Black Republican。〃 I think slavery
is wrong； morally and politically。 I desire that it should be no
further spread inthese United States； and I should not object if it
should gradually terminate in the whole Union。 While I say this for
myself； I say to you Kentuckians that I understand you differ
radically with me upon this proposition； that you believe slavery is
a good thing； that slavery is right； that it ought to be extended and
perpetuated in this Union。 Now； there being this broad difference
between us； I do not pretend； in addressing myself to you
Kentuckians； to attempt proselyting you； that would be a vain effort。
I do not enter upon it。 I only propose to try to show you that you
ought to nominate for the next Presidency； at Charleston； my
distinguished friend Judge Douglas。 In all that there is a
difference between you and him； I understand he is sincerely for you；
and more wisely for you than you are for yourselves。 I will try to
demonstrate that proposition。 Understand； now； I say that I believe
he is as sincerely for you； and more wisely for you； than you are for
yourselves。
What do you want more than anything else to make successful your
views of slavery；to advance the outspread of it； and to secure and
perpetuate the nationality of it？ What do you want more than
anything else？ Whatis needed absolutely？ What is indispensable to
you？ Why； if I may； be allowed to answer the question； it is to
retain a hold upon the North； it is to retain support and strength
from the free States。 If you can get this support and strength from
the free States； you can succeed。 If you do not get this support and
this strength from the free States； you are in the minority； and you
are beaten at once。
If that proposition be admitted；and it is undeniable；then the
next thing I say to you is； that Douglas； of all the men in this
nation； is the only man that affords you any hold upon the free
States； that no other man can give you any strength in the free
States。 This being so； if you doubt the other branch of the
proposition； whether he is for youwhether he is really for you； as
I have expressed it；I propose asking your attention for a while to
a few facts。
The issue between you and me； understand； is； that I think slavery is
wrong； and ought not to be outspread； and you think it is right； and
ought to be extended and perpetuated。 ＇A voice； 〃Oh； Lord！〃＇ That is
my Kentuckian I am talking to now。
I now proceed to try to show you that Douglas is as sincerely for you
and more wisely for you than you are for yourselves。
In the first place； we know that in a government like this； in a
government of the people； where the voice of all the men of the
country； substantially； enters into the executionor administration；
ratherof the government； in such a government； what lies at the
bottom of all of it is public opinion。 I lay down the proposition；
that Judge Douglas is not only the man that promises you in advance a
hold upon the North； and support in the North； but he constantly
moulds public opinion to your ends； that in every possible way he can
he constantly moulds the public opinion of the North to your ends；
and if there are a few things in which he seems to be against you；…
…a； few things which he says that appear to be against you； and a few
that he forbears to say which you would like to have him say you
ought to remember that the saying of the one； or the forbearing to
say the other； would lose his hold upon the North； and； by
consequence； would lose his capacity to serve you。
Upon this subject of moulding public opinion I call your attention to
the factfor a well established fact it isthat the Judge never
says your institution of slavery is wrong。 There is not a public man
in the United States； I believe； with the exception of Senator
Douglas； who has not； at some time in his life； declared his opinion
whether the thing is right or wrong； but Senator Douglas never
declares it is wrong。 He leaves himself at perfect liberty to do all
in your favor which he would be hindered from doing if he were to
declare the thing to be wrong。 On the contrary； he takes all the
chances that he has for inveigling the sentiment of the North；
opposed to slavery； into your support； by never saying it is right。
This you ought to set down to his credit： You ought to give him full
credit for this much； little though it be； in comparison to the whole
which he does for you。
Some other； things I will ask your attention to。 He said upon the
floor of the United States Senate； and he has repeated it； as I
understand； a great many times； that he does not care whether slavery
is 〃voted up or voted down。〃 This again shows you； or ought to show
you； if you would reason upon it； that he does not believe it to be
wrong； for a man may say when he sees nothing wrong in a thing； that
he； dues not