Then you really believe that the principle which "our fathers who framed the government under which we live" thought so clearly right as to adopt it, and indorse it again and again, upon their official oaths, is in fact so clearly wrong as to demand your condemnation without a moment's consideration.
Lincoln challenged his Southern opponents to consider if they truly believed the founding fathers' stance on slavery was so wrong as to be dismissed without thought.
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More from Abraham Lincoln
As a general rule I abstain from reading the reports of attacks upon myself, wishing not to be provoked by that to which I cannot properly offer an answer.
The question is, will it be wiser to take it as it is and help to improve it, or to reject and disperse it?
Unlike a case of war between independent nations, there is no organized organ for us to treat with,--no one man has authority to give up the rebellion for any other man.
I do the very best I know how--the very best I can; and I mean to keep doing so until the end.
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