Lincoln on Democracy

"THE FIGHT MUST Go ON"

136 LINCOLN ON DEMOCRACY placed it. [Congressman Preston] Brooks of South Carolina once declared that when this Constitution was framed, its framers did not look to the institution existing until this day. When he said this, I think he stated a fact that is fully borne out by the history of the times. But he also said they were better and wiser men than the men of these days; yet the men of these days had experience which they had not, and by the invention of the cotton gin it became a necessity in this country that slavery should be perpetual. I now say that willingly or unwillingly, purposely or without purpose, Judge Douglas has been the most prominent instrument in changing the position of the institution of slavery which the fathers of the government expected to come to an end ere this--and putting it upon Brooks' cotton gin basis, [Great applause,]-placing it where he openly confesses he has no desire there shall ever be an end of it. [Renewed applause.] "THE FIGHT MUST Go ON" Letter to Henry Asbury [NOVEMBER 19, 1858] Lincoln wrote this letter just weeks after his defeat in the 1858 Senate election. Attorney Henry Asbury was a Lincoln supporter from the debate town of Quincy. Henry Asbury, Esq My dear Sir Springfield, Novr. 19, 1858 Yours of the 13th. was received some days ago. The fight must go on. The cause of civil liberty must not be surrendered at the end ofone, or even, one hundred defeats. Douglas had the ingenuity to be supported in the late contest both as the best means to break down, and Lincoln and the House Divided, 1858 137 to uphold the Slave interest. No ingenuity can keep those antagonistic elements in harmony long. Another explosion will soon come. Yours truly A. LINCOLN- ...