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

Important principles may and must be inflexible.

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.

The question is, will it be wiser to take it as it is and help to improve it, or to reject and disperse it?

If the end brings me out wrong, ten angels swearing I was right would make no difference.