Fundamentally, it ought to be based on just about the principle that ought to govern each private individual citizen in dealing with his fellow, on the principle of trying to act squarely by every other nation, and of exacting square…

Let us, therefore, study the incidents of this as philosophy to learn wisdom from, and none of them as wrongs to be revenged.

Human nature will not change.

He warred for the Union; he warred to free the slave; and when he warred he warred in earnest, for it is a sign of weakness to be half-hearted when blows must be struck.

While I am deeply sensible to the high compliment of a re-election, and duly grateful, as I trust, to Almighty God for having directed my countrymen to a right conclusion, as I think, for their own good, it adds nothing to my satisfaction…

This is the spirit in which mighty Lincoln sought to bind up the nation's wounds when its soul was yet seething with fierce hatreds, with wrath, with rancor, with all the evil and dreadful passions provoked by civil war.

Besides acting squarely, talk politely.

The great interest which our people feel in the story of Paul Jones's life, the national sense of gratitude for the great service done by him toward the achievement of independence, and the sentiment of mingled distress and regret felt…

So long as I have been here I have not willingly planted a thorn in any man's bosom.

Surely this is the spirit which all Americans should show now, when there is so little excuse for malice or rancor or hatred, when there is so little of vital consequence to divide brother from brother.

Yes, and have the 'big stick', too, but do not brandish it.

But he felt only love, a love as deep as the tenderness of his great and sad heart, for all his country men alike in the North and in the South, and he longed above every thing for the day when they should once more be knit together in the…

To speak discourteously, insultingly, does not do them any harm; it may irritate them, and therefore, it may do us some harm.

The strife of the election is but human nature practically applied to the facts of the case.

It is not a matter of credit to be honest, any more than it is a matter of credit to a soldier to be brave.

Lincoln, himself a man of Southern birth, did not hesitate to appeal to the sword when he became satisfied that in no other way could the Union be saved, for high though he put peace he put righteousness still higher.

May I ask those who have not differed with me to join with me in this same spirit toward those who have?

It is not probable that the survey would be completed in a less period than that of eight or ten years, but it is well that it should be begun in the near future.