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"AIM AT THE ELEVATION OF MEN"
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156 LINCOLN ON DEMOCRACY "AIM AT THE ELEVATION OF MEN" Letter to Theodore Canisius [MAY 17, 18 59] Here Lincoln told a German-American publisher that he opposed restrictions on the right to vote. Lincoln was a financial backer of Canisius's paper, the Illinois Staats-Anzeiger, which published the letter. Dr. Theodore Canisius Springfield, May 17, 1859 Dear Sir: Your note asking, in behalf of yourself and other german citizens, whether I am for or against the constitutional provision in regard to naturalized citizens, lately adopted by Massachusetts; and whether I am for or against a fusion of the republicans, and other opposition elements, for the canvas of 1860, is received. Massachusetts is a sovereign and independent state; and it is no privilege of mine to scold her for what she does. Still, if from what she has done, an inference is sought to be drawn as to what I would do, I may, without impropriety, speak out. I say then, that, as I understand the Massachusetts provision, I am against it's adoption in Illinois, or in any other place, where I have a right to oppose it. Understanding the spirit ofour institutions to aim at the elevation ofmen, I am opposed to whatever tends to degrade them. I have some little notoriety for commiserating the oppressed condition of the negro; and I should be strangely inconsistent if I could favor any project for curtailing the existing rights of white men, even though born in different lands, and speaking different languages from myself. As to the matter of fusion, I am for it, if it can be had on republican grounds; and I am not for it on any other terms. A fusion on any other terms, would be as foolish as unprincipled. It would lose the whole North, while the common enemy would still carry the whole South. The question of men is a different one. There are good patriotic men, and able statesmen, in the South whom I would cheerfully support, if they Lincoln and the Race for President, 1859-1860 157 would now place themselves on republican ground. But I am against letting down the republican standard a hair's breadth. I have written this hastily, but I believe it answers your questions substantially. Yours truly A. LINCOLN "THE MORAL LIGHTS AROUND US" From a Speech at Columbus, Ohio [SEPTEMBER 16, 1859] The opening address in a six-state speaking tour, this speech, delivered from the terrace ofthe Ohio statehouse, was used by Lincoln to renew his attack on Stephen A. Douglas-"without gloves," according to the influential Washington newspaper, the National Intelligencer. Although a pro-Douglas Cincinnati paper reported that Lincoln "disappointed his friends" by proving not to be "a very pleasing speaker, " others credited his campaigning for bringing about the Republican Party's success in the state's fall elections. He returned home, an Illinois journalist reported, "after electrifying Ohio. " I believe there is a genuine popular sovereignty. I think a definition of genuine popular sovereignty, in the abstract, would be about this: That each man shall do precisely as he pleases with himself, and with all those things which exclusively concern him. Applied to government, this principle would be, that a general government shall do all those things which pertain to it, and all the local governments shall do precisely as they please in respect to those matters which exclusively concern them. I understand that this government of the United States, under which we live, is based upon this principle; and I am misunderstood if it is supposed that I have any war to make upon that principle. ...