J. R. Fullinwider & W. F. Correll. Feb. 14. 1860
Gentlemen. Your letter, in which among other things, you ask ``what I meant when I said this Union could not stand half slave and half free---and also what I meant when I said a house divided against itself could not stand'' is received, and I very cheerfully answer it as plainly as I may be able. You misquote, to some material extent, what I did say; which induces me to think you have not, very carefully read the speech in which the expressions occur which to [sic] puzzle you to understand. For this reason and because the language I used is as plain as I can make it, I now quote at length the whole paragraph in which the expressions which puzzle you occur. It is as follows: ``We are now far into the fifth year since a policy was initiated with the avowed object, and confident promise of putting an end to slavery agitation. Under the operation of that policy that agitation has not only not ceased but constantly augmented. I believe it will not cease until a crisis shall have been reached, and passed. A house divided against itself can not stand. I