Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln. Volume 2 [Sept. 3, 1848-Aug. 21, 1858].

About this Item

Title: Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln. Volume 2 [Sept. 3, 1848-Aug. 21, 1858].
Author: Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865.
Publication: New Brunswick, N.J.: Rutgers University Press; 1953.
Rights/Permissions: The University of Michigan Library provides access to these materials for educational and research purposes, with permission from their copyright holder. If you decide to use any of these materials, you are responsible for making your own legal assessment and securing any necessary permission.
Link to this Item: http://name.umdl.umich.edu/lincoln2
Cite this Item: "Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln. Volume 2 [Sept. 3, 1848-Aug. 21, 1858]." In the digital collection Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/lincoln2. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed June 5, 2024.

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To Jediah F. Alexander1Jump to section

J. F. Alexander, Esq Springfield,
Greenville, Ills. May 15. 1858

My dear Sir I reached home a week ago and found yours of the 1st. inviting me to name a time to meet and address a political meeting in Bond county. It is too early, considering that when I once begin making political speeches I shall have no respite till November. The labor of that I might endure, but I really can not spare the time from my business.

Nearer the time I will try to meet the people of Bond, if they desire.

I will only say now that, as I understand, there remains all the difference there ever was between Judge Douglas & the Republicans---they insisting that Congress shall, and he insisting that congress shall not, keep slavery out of the Teritories before & up to the time they form State constitutions. No republican has ever contended that, when a constitution is to be formed, any but the people of the teritory shall form it. Republican's have never contended that congress should dictate a constitution to any state or teritory; but they have contended that the people should be perfectly free to form their constitution in their own way---as perfectly free from the presence of slavery amongst them, as from every other improper influence.

In voting together in opposition to a constitution being forced upon the people of Kansas, neither Judge Douglas nor the Republicans,

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has conceded anything which was ever in dispute between them. Yours very truly

A. LINCOLN

Annotation

[1] ALS, owned by Mrs. Paul F. Alexander, New Rochelle, New York. Jediah F. Alexander was founder and editor of the Greenville Advocate at Greenville, Illinois.

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