按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
not only let them alone； but we must； somehow； convince them that we
do let them alone。 This； we know by experience； is no easy task。
We have been so trying to convince them from the very beginning of
our organization； but with no success。 In all our platforms and
speeches we have constantly protested our purpose to let them alone；
but this has had no tendency to convince them。 Alike unavailing to
convince them is the fact that they have never detected a man of us
in any attempt to disturb them。
These natural and apparently adequate means all failing； what will
convince them？ This； and this only： cease to call slavery wrong； and
join them in calling it right。 And this must be done thoroughly
done in acts as well as in words。 Silence will not be toleratedwe
must place ourselves avowedly with them。 Senator Douglas's new
sedition law must be enacted and enforced； suppressing all
declarations that slavery is wrong； whether made in politics； in
presses； in pulpits； or in private。 We must arrest and return their
fugitive slaves with greedy pleasure。 We must pull down our free
State constitutions。 The whole atmosphere must be disinfected from
all taint of opposition to slavery； before they will cease to believe
that all their troubles proceed from us。
I am quite aware they do not state their case precisely in this way。
Most of them would probably say to us； 〃Let us alone； do nothing to
us； and say what you please about slavery。〃 But we do let them alone
have never disturbed themso that after all it is what we say which
dissatisfies them。 They will continue to accuse us of doing； until
we cease saying。
I am also aware they have not as yet； in terms； demanded the
overthrow of our free State constitutions。 Yet those constitutions
declare the wrong of slavery； with more solemn emphasis than do all
other sayings against it； and when all these other sayings shall have
been silenced； the overthrow of these constitutions will be demanded；
and nothing be left to resist the demand。 It is nothing to the
contrary； that they do not demand the whole of this just now。
Demanding what they do； and for the reason they do； they can
voluntarily stop nowhere short of this consummation。 Holding； as
they do； that slavery is morally right； and socially elevating； they
cannot cease to demand a full national recognition of it； as a legal
right and a social blessing。
Nor can we justifiably withhold this on any ground save our
conviction that slavery is wrong。 If slavery is right； all words；
acts； laws； and constitutions against it are themselves wrong； and
should be silenced and swept away。 If it is right； we cannot justly
object to its nationality its universality； if it is wrong； they
cannot justly insist upon its extensionits enlargement。 All they
ask we could readily grant if we thought slavery right； all we ask
they could as readily grant； if they thought it wrong。 Their
thinking it right and our thinking it wrong is the precise fact upon
which depends the whole controversy。 Thinking it right； as they do；
they are not to blame for desiring its full recognition； as being
right； but thinking it wrong； as we do； can we yield to them？ Can we
cast our votes with their view； and against our own？ In view of our
moral； social； and political responsibilities； can we do this？ Wrong
as we think slavery is； we can yet afford to let it alone where it
is； because that much is due to the necessity arising from its actual
presence in the nation； but can we； while our votes will prevent it；
allow it to spread into the national Territories； and to overrun us
here in these free States？ If our sense of duty forbids this； then
let us stand by our duty； fearlessly and effectively。 Let us be
diverted by none of those sophistical contrivances wherewith we are
so industriously plied and belabored…contrivances such as groping for
some middle ground between the right and the wrong； vain as the
search for a man who should be neither a living man nor a dead
man…such as a policy of 〃don't care〃 on a question about which all
true men do caresuch as Union appeals beseeching true Union men to
yield to Disunionists； reversing the divine rule； and calling； not
the sinners； but the righteous to repentancesuch as invocations to
Washington； imploring men to unsay what Washington said； and undo
what Washington did。
Neither let us be slandered from our duty by false accusations
against us； nor frightened from it by menaces of destruction to the
Government nor of dungeons to ourselves。 LET US HAVE FAITH THAT RIGHT
MAKES MIGHT； AND IN THAT FAITH LET US； TO THE END； DARE TO DO OUR
DUTY AS WE UNDERSTAND IT。
SPEECH AT NEW HAVEN； CONNECTICUT； MARCH 6； 1860
MR。 PRESIDENT； AND FELLOW…CITIZENS OF NEW HAVEN：If the Republican
party of this nation shall ever have the national House entrusted to
its keeping； it will be the duty of that party to attend to all the
affairs of national housekeeping。 Whatever matters of importance may
come up； whatever difficulties may arise in its way of administration
of the Government； that party will then have to attend to。 It will
then be compelled to attend to other questions； besides this question
which now assumes an overwhelming importancethe question of
slavery。 It is true that in the organization of the Republican party
this question of slavery was more important than any other： indeed；
so much more important has it become that no more national question
can even get a hearing just at present。 The old question of tariff…
…a matter that will remain one of the chief affairs of national
house…keeping to all time； the question of the management of
financial affairs； the question of the disposition of the public
domain how shall it be managed for the purpose of getting it well
settled； and of making there the homes of a free and happy people？
these will remain open and require attention for a great while yet；
and these questions will have to be attended to by whatever party has
the control of the Government。 Yet； just now； they cannot even
obtain a hearing； and I do not propose to detain you upon these
topics or what sort of hearing they should have when opportunity
shall come。
For； whether we will or not； the question of slavery is the question；
the all…absorbing topic of the day。 It is true that all of usand by
that I mean； not the Republican party alone； but the whole American
people； here and elsewhereall of us wish this question settled；
wish it out of the way。 It stands in the way； and prevents the
adjustment； and the giving of necessary attention to other questions
of national house…keeping。 The people of the whole nation agree that
this question ought to be settled； and yet it is not settled。 And
the reason is that they are not yet agreed how it shall be settled。
All wish it done； but some wish one way and some another； and some a
third； or fourth； or fifth； different bodies are