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few plain questions。 In 1820 you （the South） joined the North；
almost unanimously； in declaring the African slave trade piracy；
and in annexing to it the punishment of death。 Why did you do
this？ If you did not feel that it was wrong； why did you join in
providing that men should be hung for it？ The practice was no
more than bringing wild negroes from Africa to such as would buy
them。 But you never thought of hanging men for catching and
selling wild horses； wild buffaloes； or wild bears。
Again； you have among you a sneaking individual of the class of
native tyrants known as the 〃slavedealer。〃 He watches your
necessities； and crawls up to buy your slave； at a speculating
price。 If you cannot help it； you sell to him； but if you can
help it； you drive him from your door。 You despise him utterly。
You do not recognize him as a friend； or even as an honest man。
Your children must not play with his； they may rollick freely
with the little negroes； but not with the slave…dealer's
children。 If you are obliged to deal with him； you try to get
through the job without so much as touching him。 It is common
with you to join hands with the men you meet； but with the slave…
dealer you avoid the ceremonyinstinctively shrinking from the
snaky contact。 If he grows rich and retires from business； you
still remember him； and still keep up the ban of non…intercourse
upon him and his family。 Now； why is this？ You do not so treat
the man who deals in corn； cotton； or tobacco。
And yet again： There are in the United States and Territories；
including the District of Columbia； 433；643 free blacks。 At five
hundred dollars per head they are worth over two hundred millions
of dollars。 How comes this vast amount of property to be running
about without owners？ We do not see free horses or free cattle
running at large。 How is this？ All these free blacks are the
descendants of slaves； or have been slaves themselves； and they
would be slaves now but for something which has operated on their
white owners； inducing them at vast pecuniary sacrifice to
liberate them。 What is that something？ Is there any mistaking
it？ In all these cases it is your sense of justice and human
sympathy continually telling you that the poor negro has some
natural right to himselfthat those who deny it and make mere
merchandise of him deserve kickings； contempt； and death。
And now why will you ask us to deny the humanity of the slave；
and estimate him as only the equal of the hog？ Why ask us to do
what you will not do yourselves？ Why ask us to do for nothing
what two hundred millions of dollars could not induce you to do？
But one great argument in support of the repeal of the Missouri
Compromise is still to come。 That argument is 〃the sacred right
of self…government。〃 It seems our distinguished Senator has found
great difficulty in getting his antagonists； even in the Senate；
to meet him fairly on this argument。 Some poet has said：
〃Fools rush in where angels fear to tread。〃
At the hazard of being thought one of the fools of this
quotation； I meet that argumentI rush inI take that bull by
the horns。 I trust I understand and truly estimate the right of
self…government。 My faith in the proposition that each man
should do precisely as he pleases with all which is exclusively
his own lies at the foundation of the sense of justice there is
in me。 I extend the principle to communities of men as well as
to individuals。 I so extend it because it is politically wise；
as well as naturally just； politically wise in saving us from
broils about matters which do not concern us。 Here； or at
Washington； I would not trouble myself with the oyster laws of
Virginia； or the cranberry laws of Indiana。 The doctrine of
self…government is right；absolutely and eternally right；but
it has no just application as here attempted。 Or perhaps I
should rather say that whether it has such application depends
upon whether a negro is or is not a man。 If he is not a man； in
that case he who is a man may as a matter of self…government do
just what he pleases with him。 But if the negro is a man； is it
not to that extent a total destruction of self…government to say
that he too shall not govern himself？ When the white man governs
himself； that is self…government； but when he governs himself and
also governs another man； that is more than self…governmentthat
is despotism。 If the negro is a man； why； then； my ancient faith
teaches me that 〃all men are created equal；〃 and that there can
be no moral right in connection with one man's making a slave of
another。
Judge Douglas frequently； with bitter irony and sarcasm；
paraphrases our argument by saying： 〃The white people of Nebraska
are good enough to govern themselves； but they are not good
enough to govern a few miserable negroes！〃
Well； I doubt not that the people of Nebraska are and will
continue to be as good as the average of people elsewhere。 I do
not say the contrary。 What I do say is that no man is good
enough to govern another man without that other's consent。 I say
this is the leading principle； the sheet…anchor of American
republicanism。 Our Declaration of Independence says：
〃We hold these truths to be self…evident： That all men are
created equal； that they are endowed by their Creator with
certain inalienable rights； that among these are life； liberty；
and the pursuit of happiness。 That to secure these rights；
governments are instituted among men； DERIVING THEIR JUST POWERS
PROM THE CONSENT OF THE GOVERNED。〃
I have quoted so much at this time merely to show that； according
to our ancient faith； the just powers of government are derived
from the consent of the governed。 Now the relation of master and
slave is pro tanto a total violation of this principle。 The
master not only governs the slave without his consent； but he
governs him by a set of rules altogether different from those
which he prescribes for himself。 Allow all the governed an equal
voice in the government； and that； and that only； is self…
government。
Let it not be said that I am contending for the establishment of
political and social equality between the whites and blacks。 I
have already said the contrary。 I am not combating the argument
of necessity； arising from the fact that the blacks are already
among us； but I am combating what is set up as moral argument for
allowing them to be taken where they have never yet beenarguing
against the extension of a bad thing； which； where it already
exists； we must of necessity manage as we best can。
In support of his application of the doctrine of self…government；
Senator Douglas has sought to bring to his aid the opinions and
examples of our Revolutionary fathers。 I am glad he has done
this。 I love the sentiments of those old…time men； and shall be
most happy to abide by their opinions。 He shows us that when it
was in contemplation for the c