Abraham Lincoln: “My own feelings will not admit of this, and if mine would, we well know that those of the great mass of whites will not.”

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.

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.

Important principles may and must be inflexible.

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