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And I fancied that she was the singer。
May emotions as pure as that song set astir
Be the wont that the future shall bring her。
NEGROES ARE MEN
TO J。 U。 BROWN。
SPRINGFIELD； OCT 18； 1858
HON。 J。 U。 BROWN。
MY DEAR SIR：I do not perceive how I can express myself more plainly
than I have in the fore…going extracts。 In four of them I have
expressly disclaimed all intention to bring about social and
political equality between the white and black races and in all the
rest I have done the same thing by clear implication。
I have made it equally plain that I think the negro is included in
the word 〃men〃 used in the Declaration of Independence。
I believe the declaration that 〃all men are created equal 〃is the
great fundamental principle upon which our free institutions rest；
that negro slavery is violative of that principle； but that； by our
frame of government； that principle has not been made one of legal
obligation； that by our frame of government； States which have
slavery are to retain it； or surrender it at their own pleasure； and
that all othersindividuals； free States and national Government
are constitutionally bound to leave them alone about it。
I believe our Government was thus framed because of the necessity
springing from the actual presence of slavery； when it was framed。
That such necessity does not exist in the Territories when slavery is
not present。
In his Mendenhall speech Mr。 Clay says： 〃Now as an abstract principle
there is no doubt of the truth of that declaration （all men created
equal）； and it is desirable； in the original construction of society；
to keep it in view as a great fundamental principle。〃
Again； in the same speech Mr。 Clay says： 〃If a state of nature
existed and we were about to lay the foundations of society； no man
would be more strongly opposed than I should to incorporate the
institution of slavery among its elements。〃
Exactly so。 In our new free Territories； a state of nature does
exist。 In them Congress lays the foundations of society； and in
laying those foundations； I say； with Mr。 Clay； it is desirable that
the declaration of the equality of all men shall be kept in view as a
great fundamental principle； and that Congress； which lays the
foundations of society； should； like Mr。 Clay； be strongly opposed to
the incorporation of slavery and its elements。
But it does not follow that social and political equality between
whites and blacks must be incorporated because slavery must not。 The
declaration does not so require。
Yours as ever；
A。 LINCOLN
＇Newspaper cuttings of Lincoln's speeches at Peoria； in 1854； at
Springfield； Ottawa； Chicago； and Charleston； in 1858。 They were
pasted in a little book in which the above letter was also written。＇
TO A。 SYMPSON。
BLANDINSVILLE； Oct 26； 1858
A。 SYMPSON； Esq。
DEAR SIR：Since parting with you this morning I heard some things
which make me believe that Edmunds and Morrill will spend this week
among the National Democrats； trying to induce them to content
themselves by voting for Jake Davis； and then to vote for the Douglas
candidates for senator and representative。 Have this headed off； if
you can。 Call Wagley's attention to it and have him and the National
Democrat for Rep。 to counteract it as far as they can。
Yours as ever；
A。 LINCOLN。
SENATORIAL ELECTION LOST AND OUT OF MONEY
TO N。 B。 JUDD。
SPRINGFIELD； NOVEMBER 16； 1858
HON。 N。 B。 JUDD
DEAR SIR：Yours of the 15th is just received。 I wrote you the same
day。 As to the pecuniary matter； I am willing to pay according to my
ability； but I am the poorest hand living to get others to pay。 I
have been on expenses so long without earning anything that I am
absolutely without money now for even household purposes。 Still； if
you can put in two hundred and fifty dollars for me toward
discharging the debt of the committee； I will allow it when you and I
settle the private matter between us。 This； with what I have already
paid； and with an outstanding note of mine； will exceed my
subscription of five hundred dollars。 This； too； is exclusive of my
ordinary expenses during the campaign； all of which； being added to
my loss of time and business； bears pretty heavily upon one no better
off in ＇this＇ world's goods than I； but as I had the post of honor；
it is not for me to be over nice。 You are feeling badly；〃And this
too shall pass away；〃 never fear。
Yours as ever；
A。 LINCOLN。
THE FIGHT MUST GO ON
TO H。 ASBURY。
SPRINGFIELD； November 19； 1858。
HENRY ASBURY； Esq。
DEAR SIR：Yours of the 13th was received some days ago。 The fight
must go on。 The cause of civil liberty must not be surrendered at
the end of one or even one hundred defeats。 Douglas had the
ingenuity to be supported in the late contest both as the best means
to break down and to uphold the slave interest。 No ingenuity can
keep these antagonistic elements in harmony long。 Another explosion
will soon come。
Yours truly；
A。 LINCOLN。
REALIZATION THAT DEBATES MUST BE SAVED
TO C。 H。 RAY。
SPRINGFIELD； Nov。20； 1858
DR。 C。 H。 RAY
MY DEAR SIR：I wish to preserve a set of the late debates （if they
may be called so）； between Douglas and myself。 To enable me to do
so； please get two copies of each number of your paper containing the
whole； and send them to me by express； and I will pay you for the
papers and for your trouble。 I wish the two sets in order to lay one
away in the ＇undecipherable word＇ and to put the other in a
scrapbook。 Remember； if part of any debate is on both sides of the
sheet it will take two sets to make one scrap…book。
I believe； according to a letter of yours to Hatch； you are 〃feeling
like h…ll yet。〃 Quit thatyou will soon feel better。 Another 〃blow
up〃 is coming； and we shall have fun again。 Douglas managed to be
supported both as the best instrument to down and to uphold the slave
power； but no ingenuity can long keep the antagonism in harmony。
Yours as ever；
A。 LINCOLN
TO H。 C。 WHITNEY。
SPRINGFIELD； November 30； 1858
H。 C。 WHITNEY； ESQ。
MY DEAR SIR ：Being desirous of preserving in some permanent form
the late joint discussion between Douglas and myself； ten days ago I
wrote to Dr。 Ray； requesting him to forward to me by express two
sets of the numbers of the Tribune which contain the reports of those
discussions。 Up to date I have no word from him on the subject。
Will you； if in your power； procure them and forward them to me by
express？ If you will； I will pay all charges； and be greatly obliged；
to boot。 Hoping to visit you before long； I remain
As ever your friend；
A。 LINCOLN。
TO H。 D。 SHARPE。
SPRINGFIELD； Dec。 8； 1858。
H。 D。 SHARPE； Esq。
DEAR SIR：Your very kind letter of Nov。 9th was duly received。 I
do not know that you expected or desired an answer； but glancing over
the contents of yours again； I am prompted to say that； while I
desired the result of the late canvass to have been different； I
still regard it as an exceeding small matter。 I think we have fairly
entered upon a durable struggle as to whether this nation is to
ultimately become all slave or all free； and though I fall early in
the contest； it is nothing if I shall have contributed； in the least
degree； to the final rightful result。
Respectfully yours；
A。 LINCOLN。
TO A。 SYMPSON。
SPRINGFIELD； Dec。12； 1858。
ALEXANDER SYMPSON； Esq。
MY DEAR SIR：I expect the result of the election went hard with you。
So it did with me； too； perhaps not quite so hard as you may have
supposed。 I have an abiding faith that we shall beat them in the
long run。 Step by step the objects of the leaders will become too
plain for the people to stand them。 I write merely to let you know
that I am neither dead nor dying。 Please give my respects to your
good family； and all inquiring friends。
Yours as ever；
A。 LINCOLN。
ON BANKRUPTCY
NOTES OF AN ARGUMENT。
December ＇？＇； 1858。
Legislation and adjudication must follow and conform to the progress
of society。
The progress of society now begins to produce cases of the transfer
for debts of the entire property of railroad corporations； and to
enable transferees to use and enjoy the transferred property；
1egislation and adjudication begin to be necessary。
Shall this class of legislation just now beginning with us be general
or special？
Section Ten of our Constitution requires that it should be general；
if possible。 （Read the section。）
Special legislation always trenches upon the judicial department； and
in so far violates Section Two of the Constitution。 （Read it。）
Jus