Political Quotes

On the recordMarch 4, 1861
Whenever they shall grow weary of the existing government, they can exercise their constitutional right of amending it, or their revolutionary right to dismember or overthrow it.
Said by
Abraham Lincoln
Republican · Illinois

Editor's note · Context

From his first inaugural address, Lincoln acknowledged the people's ultimate power to change or even overthrow their government, contrasting constitutional and revolutionary means.

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Apr 11, 1865

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

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Mar 17, 1865

Whenever I hear any one arguing for slavery, I feel a strong impulse to see it tried on him personally.

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Mar 17, 1865

Or, if one out of four will, for his own freedom fight to keep the other three in slavery, he ought to be a slave for his selfish meanness.

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Mar 7, 1865

In answer to the Senate's resolution of the 6th instant, requesting the return of a certain joint resolution, I transmit a report from the Secretary of State.

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