Abraham Lincoln: “Has anything ever threatened the existence of this Union save and except this very institution of slavery?”

Grant that he desires the elective franchise, will he not attain it sooner by saving the already advanced steps towards it, than by running backward over them?

If the end brings me out all right, what is said against me won't amount to anything.

I believe that it is not only possible, but in fact easier, to do this without deciding or even considering whether these States have ever been out of the Union, than with it.

I do the very best I know how--the very best I can; and I mean to keep doing so until the end.