Abraham Lincoln: “I perceive no objection to Congress deciding in advance that they shall be free.”

Both parties deprecated war; but one of them would make war rather than let the nation survive, and the other would accept war rather than let it perish.

Important principles may and must be inflexible.

Now, therefore, be it known that I, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim and direct that all persons detected in that nefarious traffic shall be arrested and tried by court-martial at the nearest…

To care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow, and his orphan, is our duty.