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the writings-5-第18章

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first that the slave might be lawfully taken into the Territories

under the Constitution of the United States; and yet asserted that he

might be lawfully driven out。  That being the proposition; it is the

absurdity I have stated。  He is not willing to stand in the face of

that direct; naked; and impudent absurdity; he has; therefore;

modified his language into that of being 〃controlled as other

property。〃



The Kentuckians don't like this in Douglas! I will tell you where it

will go。 He now swears by the court。  He was once a leading man in

Illinois to break down a court; because it had made a decision he did

not like。 But he now not only swears by the court; the courts having

got to working for you; but he denounces all men that do not swear by

the courts; as unpatriotic; as bad citizens。  When one of these acts

of unfriendly legislation shall impose such heavy burdens as to; in

effect; destroy property in slaves in a Territory; and show plainly

enough that there can be no mistake in the purpose of the Legislature

to make them so burdensome; this same Supreme Court will decide that

law to be unconstitutional; and he will be ready to say for your

benefit 〃I swear by the court; I give it up〃; and while that is going

on he has been getting all his men to swear by the courts; and to

give it up with him。 In this again he serves you faithfully; and; as

I say; more wisely than you serve yourselves。



Again: I have alluded in the beginning of these remarks to the fact

that Judge Douglas has made great complaint of my having expressed

the opinion that this government 〃cannot endure permanently; half

slave and half free。〃  He has complained of Seward for using

different language; and declaring that there is an 〃irrepressible

conflict〃 between the principles of free and slave labor。  'A voice:

〃 He says it is not original with Seward。  That it is original with

Lincoln。〃'  I will attend to that immediately; sir。 Since that time;

Hickman of Pennsylvania expressed the same sentiment。 He has never

denounced Mr。 Hickman: why?  There is a little chance;

notwithstanding that opinion in the mouth of Hickman; that he may yet

be a Douglas man。  That is the difference!  It is not unpatriotic to

hold that opinion if a man is a Douglas man。



But neither I; nor Seward; nor Hickman is entitled to the enviable or

unenviable distinction of having first expressed that idea。  That

same idea was expressed by the Richmond Enquirer; in Virginia; in

1856;quite two years before it was expressed by the first of us。

And while Douglas was pluming himself that in his conflict with my

humble self; last year; he had 〃squelched out〃 that fatal heresy; as

he delighted to call it; and had suggested that if he only had had a

chance to be in New York and meet Seward he would have 〃squelched〃 it

there also; it never occurred to him to breathe a word against Pryor。

I don't think that you can discover that Douglas ever talked of going

to Virginia to 〃squelch〃 out that idea there。  No。  More than that。

That same Roger A。 Pryor was brought to Washington City and made the

editor of the par excellence Douglas paper; after making use of that

expression; which; in us; is so unpatriotic and heretical。  From all

this; my Kentucky friends may see that this opinion is heretical in

his view only when it is expressed by men suspected of a desire that

the country shall all become free; and not when expressed by those

fairly known to entertain the desire that the whole country shall

become slave。 When expressed by that class of men; it is in nowise

offensive to him。 In this again; my friends of Kentucky; you have

Judge Douglas with you。



There is another reason why you Southern people ought to nominate

Douglas at your convention at Charleston。  That reason is the

wonderful capaciity of the man;the power he has of doing what would

seem to be impossible。 Let me call your attention to one of these

apparently impossible things:



Douglas had three or four very distinguished men of the most extreme

anti…slavery views of any men in the Republican party expressing

their desire for his re…election to the Senate last year。  That

would; of itself; have seemed to be a little wonderful; but that

wonder is heightened when we see that Wise of Virginia; a man exactly

opposed to them; a man who believes in the divine right of slavery;

was also expressing his desire that Douglas should be reelected; that

another man that may be said to be kindred to Wise; Mr。 Breckinridge;

the Vice…President; and of your own State; was also agreeing with the

anti…slavery men in the North that Douglas ought to be re…elected。

Still to heighten the wonder; a senator from Kentucky; whom I have

always loved with an affection as tender and endearing as I have ever

loved any man; who was opposed to the anti…slavery men for reasons

which seemed sufficient to him; and equally opposed to Wise and

Breckinridge; was writing letters into Illinois to secure the

reelection of Douglas。  Now; that all these conflicting elements

should be brought; while at daggers' points with one another; to

support him; is a feat that is worthy for you to note and consider。

It is quite probable that each of these classes of men thought; by

the re…election of Douglas; their peculiar views would gain

something: it is probable that the anti…slavery men thought their

views would gain something; that Wise and Breckinridge thought so

too; as regards their opinions; that Mr。 Crittenden thought that his

views would gain something; although he was opposed to both these

other men。  It is probable that each and all of them thought that

they were using Douglas; and it is yet an unsolved problem whether he

was not using them all。  If he was; then it is for you to consider

whether that power to perform wonders is one for you lightly to throw

away。



There is one other thing that I will say to you; in this relation。 It

is but my opinion; I give it to you without a fee。  It is my opinion

that it is for you to take him or be defeated; and that if you do

take him you may be beaten。  You will surely be beaten if you do not

take him。  We; the Republicans and others forming the opposition of

the country; intend to 〃stand by our guns;〃 to be patient and firm;

and in the long run to beat you; whether you take him or not。  We

know that before we fairly beat you we have to beat you both

together。  We know that you are 〃all of a feather;〃 and that we have

to beat you all together; and we expect to do it。  We don't intend to

be very impatient about it。  We mean to be as deliberate and calm

about it as it is possible to be; but as firm and resolved as it is

possible for men to be。  When we do as we say;beat you;you

perhaps want to know what we will do with you。



I will tell you; so far as I am authorized to speak for the

opposition; what we mean to do with you。 We mean to treat you; as

near as we possibly can; as Washington; Jefferson; and Madison

treated you。  We mean to leave you alone; and in no way interfere

with your institution; to abide by all and every compromise of the

Constitution; and; in a word; coming back to the original

proposition; to treat you; so far as degenerated men (if we have

degenerated) may; according to the examples of those noble fathers;

Washington; Jefferson; and Madison。  We mean to remember that you are

as good as we; that there is no difference between us other than the

difference of circumstances。  We mean to recognize and bear in mind

always that you have as good hearts in your bosoms as other people;

or as we claim to have; and treat you accordingly。  We mean to marry

your girls when we have a chance; the white ones I mean; and I have

the honor to inform you that I once did have a chance in that way。



I have told you what we mean to do。 I want to know; now; when that

thing takes place; what do you mean to do?  I often hear it intimated

that you mean to divide the Union whenever a Republican; or anything

like it; is elected President of the United States。  'A voice: 〃That

is so。〃'  〃That is so;〃 one of them says; I wonder if he is a

Kentuckian?  'A voice: 〃He is a Douglas man。〃'  Well; then; I want to

know what you are going to do with your half of it?  Are you going to

split the Ohio down through; and push your half off a piece?  Or are

you going to keep it right alongside of us outrageous fellows?  Or

are you going to build up a wall some way between your country and

ours; by which that movable property of yours can't come over here

any more; to the danger of your losing it?  Do you think you can

better yourselves; on that subject; by leaving us here under no

obligation whatever to return those specimens of your movable

property that come hither?  You have divided the Union because we

would not do right with you; as you think; upon that subject; when we

cease to be under obligations to do anything for you; how much better

off do you th
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