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insisting that the Declaration of Independence includes all men；
black as well as white； and forthwith he boldly denies that it
includes negroes at all； and proceeds to argue gravely that all
who contend it does； do so only because they want to vote； and
eat； and sleep； and marry with negoes。 He will have it that they
cannot be consistent else。 Now I protest against the counterfeit
logic which concludes that； because I do not want a black woman
for a slave I must necessarily want her for a wife。 I need not
have her for either。 I can just leave her alone。 In some
respects she certainly is not my equal； but in her natural right
to eat the bread she earns with her own hands； without asking
leave of any one else； she is my equal and the equal of all
others。
Chief Justice Taney； in his opinion in the Dred Scott case；
admits that the language of the Declaration is broad enough to
include the whole human family； but he and Judge Douglas argue
that the authors of that instrument did not intend to include
negroes； by the fact that they did not at once actually place
them on an equality with the whites。 Now this grave argument
comes to just nothing at all； by the other fact that they did not
at once； or ever afterward； actually place all white people on an
equality with one another。 And this is the staple argument of
both the Chief Justice and the Senator for doing this obvious
violence to the plain； unmistakable language of the Declaration。
I think the authors of that notable instrument intended to
include all men； but they did not intend to declare all men equal
in all respects。 They did not mean to say all were equal in
color； size； intellect； moral developments； or social capacity。
They defined with tolerable distinctness in what respects they
did consider all men created equalequal with 〃certain
inalienable rights； among which are life； liberty； and the
pursuit of happiness。〃 This they said； and this they meant。 They
did not mean to assert the obvious untruth that all were then
actually enjoying that equality； nor yet that they were about to
confer it immediately upon them。 In fact； they had no power to
confer such a boon。 They meant simply to declare the right； so
that enforcement of it might follow as fast as circumstances
should permit。
They meant to set up a standard maxim for free society； which
should be familiar to all； and revered by all； constantly looked
to； constantly labored for； and； even though never perfectly
attained； constantly approximated； and thereby constantly
spreading and deepening its influence and augmenting the
happiness and value of life to all people of all colors
everywhere。 The assertion that 〃all men are created equal〃 was
of no practical use in effecting our separation from Great
Britain； and it was placed in the Declaration not for that； but
for future use。 Its authors meant it to beas thank God； it is
now proving itselfstumbling…block to all those who in after
times might seek to turn a free people back into the hateful
paths of despotism。 They knew the proneness of prosperity to
breed tyrants； and they meant when such should reappear in this
fair land and commence their vocation； they should find left for
them at least one hard nut to crack。
I have now briefly expressed my view of the meaning and object of
that part of the Declaration of Independence which declares that
〃all men are created equal。〃
Now let us hear Judge Douglas's view of the same subject； as I
find it in the printed report of his late speech。 Here it is：
〃No man can vindicate the character； motives； and conduct of the
signers of the Declaration of Independence； except upon the
hypothesis that they referred to the white race alone； and not to
the African； when they declared all men to have been created
equal； that they were speaking of British subjects on this
continent being equal to British subjects born and residing in
Great Britain； that they were entitled to the same inalienable
rights； and among them were enumerated life； liberty； and the
pursuit of happiness。 The Declaration was adopted for the
purpose of justifying the colonists in the eyes of the civilized
world in withdrawing their allegiance from the British crown； and
dissolving their connection with the mother country。〃
My good friends； read that carefully over some leisure hour； and
ponder well upon it； see what a mere wreckmangled ruinit
makes of our once glorious Declaration。
〃They were speaking of British subjects on this continent being
equal to British subjects born and residing in Great Britain〃！
Why； according to this； not only negroes but white people outside
of Great Britain and America were not spoken of in that
instrument。 The English； Irish； and Scotch； along with white
Americans； were included； to be sure； but the French； Germans；
and other white people of the world are all gone to pot along
with the Judge's inferior races！
I had thought the Declaration promised something better than the
condition of British subjects； but no； it only meant that we
should be equal to them in their own oppressed and unequal
condition。 According to that； it gave no promise that； having
kicked off the king and lords of Great Britain； we should not at
once be saddled with a king and lords of our own。
I had thought the Declaration contemplated the progressive
improvement in the condition of all men everywhere； but no； it
merely 〃was adopted for the purpose of justifying the colonists
in the eyes of the civilized world in withdrawing their
allegiance from the British crown； and dissolving their
connection with the mother country。〃 Why； that object having been
effected some eighty years ago； the Declaration is of no
practical use nowmere rubbishold wadding left to rot on the
battlefield after the victory is won。
I understand you are preparing to celebrate the 〃Fourth；〃 to…
morrow week。 What for？ The doings of that day had no reference
to the present； and quite half of you are not even descendants of
those who were referred to at that day。 But I suppose you will
celebrate； and will even go so far as to read the Declaration。
Suppose； after you read it once in the old…fashioned way； you
read it once more with Judge Douglas's version。 It will then run
thus：
〃We hold these truths to be self…evident； that all British
subjects who were on this continent eighty…one years ago were
created equal to all British subjects born and then residing in
Great Britain。〃
And now I appeal to allto Democrats as well as othersare you
really willing that the Declaration shall thus be frittered away
？thus left no more； at most； than an interesting memorial of
the dead past？thus shorn of its vitality and practical value；
and left without the germ or even the suggestion of the
individual rights of man in it？
But Judge Douglas is especially horrified at the thought of the
mixing of blood by t