Lincoln placed it, the free laborer in the North was disposed to regard a general emancipation of the slaves as tending to reduce his own wages, and as subjecting him to the disadvantage of an odious contest for precedence of race.
Blaine notes the concerns of Northern laborers regarding emancipation and its potential impact on their wages.
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That is his work and it cannot properly be taken out of his hands.
In my judgment our sole authority for the acts which we have done during the last four years was the authority communicated to Congress by the Constitution to suppress insurrection.
Their success as civil magistrates, as legislators, as executives was not less marked and meritorious than their illustrious service in war.
I am in no boastful mood: I shall not do more than I can, but I shall do all I can to save the Government, which is my sworn duty as well as my personal inclination.
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