Historical voices

I could not feel that, to the best of my ability, I had even tried to preserve the Constitution, if, to save slavery or any minor matter, I should permit the wreck of government, country, and Constitution, all together.

Right or wrong, I assumed this ground; and now avow it.

I felt that measures, otherwise unconstitutional, might become lawful by becoming indispensable to the preservation of the Constitution through the preservation of the nation.

By general law, life and limb must be protected, yet often a limb must be amputated to save a life; but a life is never wisely given to save a limb.

Was it possible to lose the nation and yet preserve the Constitution?

Nor was it my view that I might take an oath to get power, and break the oath in using the power.

If slavery is not wrong, nothing is wrong.

But I must say, that if all that has been said by orators and poets since the creation of the world in praise of women were applied to the women of America, it would not do them justice for their conduct during this war.

The highest merit, then, is due to the soldier.

For it has been said, "all that a man hath will he give for his life;" and while all contribute of their substance, the soldier puts his life at stake, and often yields it up in his country's cause.

They would probably help, in some trying time to come, to keep the jewel of liberty within the family of freedom.

I barely suggest for your private consideration, whether some of the coloured people may not be let in--as, for instance, the very intelligent, and especially those who have fought gallantly in our ranks.

I do not like this punishment of withholding pay--it falls so very hard upon poor families.

The policy of emancipation and of employing black soldiers gave to the future a new aspect, about which hope and fear and doubt contended in uncertain conflict.

It is for us, the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced.

The world will little note nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here.

But in a larger sense we cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate, we cannot hallow this ground.

Fourscore and seven years ago our fathers brought forth upon this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy.

No human counsel hath devised, nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things.

It will then have been proved that among freemen there can be no successful appeal from the ballot to the bullet, and that they who take such appeal are sure to lose their case and pay the cost.

I hope it will come soon, and come to stay; and so come as to be worth the keeping in all future time.

Thanks to all,--for the great Republic, for the principle it lives by and keeps alive, for man's vast future,--thanks to all.

The job was a great national one, and let none be banned who bore an honourable part in it.