The legitimate object of government is to do for a community of people whatever they need to have done, but can not do at all, or can not so well do, for themselves – in their separate, and individual capacities.
My great concern is not whether you have failed, but whether you are content with your failure.
Get books, sit yourself down anywhere, and go to reading them yourself.
I therefore consider that in view of the Constitution and the laws, the Union is unbroken; and to the extent of my ability I shall take care, as the Constitution itself expressly enjoins upon me, that the laws of the Union be faithfully executed in all the States.
I cannot make it better known than it already is that I strongly favor colonization.
I would like to speak in terms of praise due to the many brave officers and soldiers who have fought in the cause of the war.
I freely acknowledge myself the servant of the people, according to the bond of service – the United States Constitution; and that, as such, I am responsible to them.
You dislike the emancipation proclamation; and, perhaps, would have it retracted. You say it is unconstitutional – I think differently.
But the proclamation, as law, either is valid, or is not valid. If it is not valid, it needs no retraction. If it is valid, it can not be retracted, any more than the dead can be brought to life.
Peace does not appear so distant as it did. I hope it will come soon, and come to stay; and so come as to be worth the keeping in all future time.
And then, there will be some black men who can remember that, with silent tongue, and clenched teeth, and steady eye, and well-poised bayonnet, they have helped mankind on to this great consummation...
Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure.
There is more involved in this contest than is realized by every one. There is involved in this struggle the question whether your children and my children shall enjoy the privileges we have enjoyed.
We have, as all will agree, a free Government, where every man has a right to be equal with every other man. In this great struggle, this form of Government and every form of human right is endangered if our enemies succeed.
We hoped for a happy termination of this terrible war long before this; but God knows best, and has ruled otherwise. We shall yet acknowledge His wisdom and our own error therein.
I am much indebted to the good Christian people of the country for their constant prayers and consolations; and to no one of them, more than to yourself.
The Lord spared the fitten and the rest he seen fitten to die.
He has got the slows, Mr. Blair.
I can’t spare this man, he fights!
Lamon, that speech won’t scour. It is a flat failure and the people are disappointed.
I think to lose Kentucky is nearly the same as to lose the whole game.