Abraham Lincoln: “I repeat the recommendation of my predecessor in his annual message to Congress in December last in regard to the…”

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.

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

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?

Important principles may and must be inflexible.