Lincoln on Democracy

"I CLAIM No ... EXEMPTION FROMPERSONAL AMBITION"

Lincoln and the House Divided, 1858 123 guished from the land; so that no man would hereafter dare to limit and circumscribe the great principles on which the temple of liberty was being built. [Loud cheers.] Now, my countrymen (Mr. Lincoln continued with great earnestness ,) if you have been taught doctrines conflicting with the great landmarks of the Declaration of Independence; if you have listened to suggestions which would take away from its grandeur, and mutilate the fair symmetry of its proportions; if you have been inclined to believe that all men are not created equal in those inalienable rights enumerated by our chart of liberty, let me entreat you to come back. Return to the fountain whose waters spring close by the blood of the Revolution . Think nothing of me-take no thought for the political fate of any man whomsoever-but come back to the truths that are in the Declaration of Independence. You may do anything with me you choose, if you will but heed these sacred principles. You may not only defeat me for the Senate, but you may take me and put me to death. While pretending no indifference to earthly honors, I do claim to be actuated in this contest by something higher than an anxiety for office. I charge you to drop every paltry and insignificant thought for any man's success. It is nothing; I am nothing; Judge Douglas is nothing. But do not destroy that immortal emblem ofHumanity-the Declaration ofAmerican Independence . "I CLAIM No ... EXEMPTION FROM PERSONAL AMBITION" Fragments for a Speech [AUGUST 21, 1858?] Lincoln likely prepared this draftfor hisfirst debate with Senator Douglas at Ottawa, Illinois. Only two pages in Lincoln's hand survive. 124 LINCOLN ON DEMOCRACY Allow me now, in my own way, to state with what aims and objects I did enter upon this campaign. I claim no extraordinary exemption from personal ambition. That I like preferment as well as the average ofmen may be admitted. But I protest I have not entered upon this hard contest solely, or even chiefly, for a mere personal object. I clearly see, as I think, a powerful plot to make slavery universal and perpetual in this nation. The effort to carry that plot through will be persistent and long continued, extending far beyond the senatorial term for which Judge Douglas and I are just now struggling. I enter upon the contest to contribute my humble and temporary mite in opposition to the effort. Judge Douglas is a man of large influence. His bare opinion goes far to fix the opinion of others. Besides this, thousands hang their hopes upon forcing their opinions to agree with his. It is a party necessity with them to say they agree with him; and there is danger they will repeat the saying till they really come to believe it. Others dread, and shrink from his denunciations, his sarcasms, and his ingenious misrepresentations . The susceptable young hear lessons from him, such as their fathers never heared [sic] when they were young. If, by all these means, he shall succeed in moulding public sentiment to a perfect accordance with his own-in bringing all men to indorse all court decisions, without caring to know whether they are right or wrong-in bringing all tongues to as perfect a silence as his own, as to there being any wrong in slavery-in bringing all to declare, with him, that they care not whether slavery be voted down or voted up-that if any people want slaves they have a right to have them-that negroes are not men-have no part in the declaration of Independence-that there is no moral question about slavery-that liberty and slavery are perfectly consistent-indeed, necessary accompaniaments-that for a strong man to declare himselfthe superior ofa weak one, and thereupon enslave the weak one, is the very essence of liberty-the most sacred right of self-government-when, I say, public sentiment shall be brought to all this, in the name of heaven, what barrier will be left against slavery being made lawful every where? Can you find one word of his, opposed to it? Can you not find many strongly favoring it? If for his life-for his eternal salvation-he was solely striving for that end, could he find any means so well adapted to reach the end? Lincoln and the House Divided...