Abraham Lincoln and the Downfall of American Slavery - Softcover

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1894 edition. Excerpt: ...the mails from places where they were habitually violated, would any or all of these things be invasion or coercion?... Upon what principle, what rightful principle may a State, being no more than one-fiftieth part of the nation in so'l and population, break up the nation, and then coerce a proportionably larger subdivision of itself in the same way?" It will be noticed that Lincoln asserted nothing. He asked these questions and left them for the people to think about. This was one of his favorite methods of putting a case. He made no arrogant assertions, no "thus-saith-the-Lord " declarations. He preferred, whenever that was possible, to leave the case with the people to decide for themselves, having first cleared the ground by asking a few weighty questions. At other points, Lincoln was called upon to address the throngs that pressed to see him, to hear his voice. It was contrary to his nature to disappoint them; and, although he made no more remarks like those at Indianapolis to indicate, what his public policy might be, he responded whenever the time allowed him. Thus at Lawrenceburgh, Indiana, he said, in the course of a, very brief speech: "Let me tell you that if the people remain right, your public men can never betray you. If, in my brief term of office, I shall be wicked or foolish, if you remain right and true and honest, you cannot be betrayed. My power is temporary and fleeting; yours as eternal as the principles of liberty." At Cincinnati, the great city of Ohio, the populace went wild with enthusiasm. Nothing like it had ever before been seen in the beautiful and easily-moved " Queen City of the West," as its people are proud to call their home. Lincoln was almost bodily carried to his...

Noah Brooks (1830-1903) was a journalist and editor who worked for newspapers in Sacramento, San Francisco, Newark, and New York. Michael Burlingame is the May Buckley Sadowski '19 Professor Emeritus of History at Connecticut College, author of The Inner World of Abraham Lincoln, and editor of An Oral History of Abraham Lincoln and Inside Lincoln's White House, among other books.