Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln. Volume 4 [Mar. 5, 1860-Oct. 24, 1861].

Passage Written for Lyman Trumbull's Speech at Springfield, Illinois1Jump to section

November 20, 1860

I have labored in, and for, the Republican organization with entire confidence that whenever it shall be in power, each and all of the States will be left in as complete control of their own affairs respectively, and at as perfect liberty to choose, and employ, their own means of protecting property, and preserving peace and order within their respective limits, as they have ever been under any administration. Those who have voted for Mr. Lincoln, have expected, and still expect this; and they would not have voted for him had they expected otherwise. I regard it as extremely fortunate for the peace of the whole country, that this point, upon which the Republicans

have been so long, and so persistently misrepresented, is now to be brought to a practical test, and placed beyond the possibility of doubt.2Jump to section Disunionists per se,3Jump to section are now in hot haste to get out of the Union, precisely because they perceive they can not, much longer, maintain apprehension among the Southern people that their homes, and firesides, and lives, are to be endangered by the action of the Federal Government. With such ``Now, or never'' is the maxim.4Jump to section

I am rather glad of this military preparation in the South. It will enable the people the more easily to suppress any uprisings there, which their misrepresentations of purposes may have encouraged.

Annotation

[1]   AD, IHi. Trumbull's note, written in pencil at the top of the page, is as follows: ``Furnished by Mr. Lincoln & copied into my remarks . . . at Springfield, Ill. Nov. 20--- 1860.'' Although Lincoln felt constrained not to express publicly in his own person the assurance which so many of his correspondents were demanding, he undertook by means of Trumbull's speech to try the effect of a quasi-official statement of his views. That his anticipation of failure for the effort did not lessen his disappointment is indicated in his letter to Henry J. Raymond, November 28, infra. As will be seen in the succeeding footnotes, Trumbull went even beyond Lincoln's assurance, and yet the secessionists ignored the statement.

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[2]   In Trumbull's speech as reported in the Illinois State Journal, November 21, 1860, the following passage is inserted at this point: ``It should be a matter of rejoicing to all true Republicans, that they will now have an opportunity of demonstrating to their political adversaries and to the world, that they are not for interfering with the domestic institutions of any of the States, nor the advocates of negro-equality or amalgamation, with which political demagogues have so often charged them. When this is shown, a re-action will assuredly take place in favor of Republicanism, the Southern mind even will be satisfied, the rights of Northern men will be respected, and the fraternal feeling existing in olden times, when men from all parts of the country went forth together to battle for a common cause, against a common enemy, will be restored.''

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[3]   Trumbull's speech inserted as follows: ``of whom, unfortunately, there have been a few in the country for some years, . . . .'

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[4]   The next paragraph was not used by Trumbull.

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