Government, Politics This country, with its institutions, belongs to the people who inhabit it. Whenever they shall grow weary of the existing Government, they can exercise their constitutional right of amending it or their revolutionary right to dismember or overthrow it. First inaugural address Of our political revolution of '76, we all are justly proud. It has given us a degree of political freedom, far exceeding that of any other nation of the earth. In it the world has found a solution of the long mooted problem, as to the capability of man to govern himself. In it was the germ which has vegetated, and still is to grow and expand into the universal liberty of mankind. February 22, 1842 Temperance Address Our government rests in public opinion. Whoever can change public opinion, can change the government, practically just so much. December 10, 1856 Speech at Chicago democracy. Whatever differs from this, to the extent of the difference, is no democracy. August 1, 1858 Fragment on Democracy...I do not mean to say that this government is charged with the duty of redressing or preventing all the wrongs in the world; but I do think that it is charged with the duty of preventing and redressing all wrongs which are wrongs to itself. September 17, 1859 Speech at Cincinnati, Ohio In this great struggle, this form of Government and every form of human right is endangered if our enemies succeed. There is more involved in this contest than is realized by every one. August 18, 1864 Speech to the 164th Ohio Regimen It is not merely for to-day, but for all time to come that we should perpetuate for our children's children this great and free government, which we have enjoyed all our lives. August 22, 1864 Speech to the One Hundred Sixty-sixth Ohio Regiment Nowhere in the world is presented a government of so much liberty and equality. To the humblest and poorest amongst us are held out the highest privileges and positions. August 31, 1864 Speech to 148th Ohio Regiment Still the question recurs can we do better? The dogmas of the quiet past are inadequate to the stormy present As our case is new, so we must think anew, and act anew. We must disenthrall ourselves, and then we shall save our country. December 1, 1862, Annual Message to Congress democracy.
There are few things wholly evil, or wholly good. Almost everything, especially of governmental policy, is an inseparable compound of the two; so that our best judgment of the preponderance between them is continually demanded. What is conservatism? Is it not adherence to the old and tried against the new and untried? Candidate Lincoln, February 27, 1860, Cooper Union Address The dogmas of the quiet past are inadequate to the stormy present. The occasion is piled high with difficulty, and we must rise with the occasion. As our case is new, so we must think anew and act anew. President Lincoln, December 1862 Let us at all times remember that all American citizens are brothers of a common country, and should dwell together in the bonds of fraternal feeling. November 20, 1860 Remarks at Springfield, Illinois Let us then turn this government back into the channel in which the framers of the Constitution originally placed it. July 10, 1858 Speech at Chicago I have borne a laborious, and, in some respects to myself, a painful part in the contest. Through all, I have neither assailed, nor wrestled with any part of the constitution. October 30, 1858 Speech at Springfield Don't interfere with anything in the Constitution. That must be maintained, for it is the only safeguard of our liberties. August 27, 1856 Speech at Kalamazoo, Michigan I hold, that in contemplation of universal law, and of the Constitution, the Union of these States is perpetual. March 4, 1861, First Inaugural Address 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. March 4, 1861, First Inaugural Address This country, with its institutions, belongs to the people who inhabit it. Whenever they shall grow weary of the existing Government, they can exercise their constitutional right of amending it or their revolutionary right to dismember or overthrow it. First inaugural address Our government rests in public opinion. Whoever can change public opinion, can change the government, practically just so much. December 10, 1856 Speech at Chicago democracy. Whatever differs from this, to the extent of the difference, is no democracy. August 1, 1858 Fragment on Democracy
...I do not mean to say that this government is charged with the duty of redressing or preventing all the wrongs in the world; but I do think that it is charged with the duty of preventing and redressing all wrongs which are wrongs to itself. September 17, 1859 Speech at Cincinnati, Ohio It is not merely for to-day, but for all time to come that we should perpetuate for our children's children this great and free government, which we have enjoyed all our lives. August 22, 1864 Speech to the One Hundred Sixty-sixth Ohio Regiment Nowhere in the world is presented a government of so much liberty and equality. To the humblest and poorest amongst us are held out the highest privileges and positions. August 31, 1864 Speech to 148th Ohio Regiment To give victory to the right, not bloody bullets, but peaceful ballots only, are necessary. May 18, 1858 speech The dogmas of the quiet past are inadequate to the stormy present. The occasion is piled high with difficulty, and we must rise with the occasion. As our case is new, so we must think anew and act anew. President Lincoln, December 1862 Let us at all times remember that all American citizens are brothers of a common country, and should dwell together in the bonds of fraternal feeling. November 20, 1860 Remarks at Springfield, Illinois Was it possible to lose the nation, and yet preserve the constitution? Lincoln in a letter to A. Hodges, April 4, 1864 Let us then turn this government back into the channel in which the framers of the Constitution originally placed it. July 10, 1858 Speech at Chicago I have borne a laborious, and, in some respects to myself, a painful part in the contest. Through all, I have neither assailed, nor wrestled with any part of the constitution. October 30, 1858 Speech at Springfield Don't interfere with anything in the Constitution. That must be maintained, for it is the only safeguard of our liberties. August 27, 1856 Speech at Kalamazoo, Michigan I am exceedingly anxious that this Union, the Constitution, and the liberties of the people shall be perpetuated in accordance with the original idea for which that struggle was made, and I shall be most happy indeed if I shall be an humble instrument in the hands of the Almighty, and of this, his almost chosen people, for perpetuating the object of that great struggle. February 21, 1861, Speech to the New Jersey Senate I hold, that in contemplation of universal law, and of the Constitution, the Union of these States is perpetual. March 4, 1861, First Inaugural Address
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. March 4, 1861, First Inaugural Address 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. August 26, 1863, Letter to James Conkling The fight must go on. The cause of civil liberty must not be surrendered at the end of one, or even one hundred defeats. Letter to Henry Asbury, Nov. 19, 1858 I am a patient man always willing to forgive on the Christians terms of repentance; and also to give ample time for repentance. Still I must save this government if possible. What I cannot do, of course I will not do; but it may as well be understood, once for all, that I shall not surrender this game leaving any available card unplayed. Letter to Reveredy Johnson, July 26, 1862 I shall not do more than I can, and I shall do all I can to save the government, which is my sworn duty as well as my personal inclination. I shall do nothing in malice. What I deal witih is too vast for malicious dealing. Letter to Cuthbert Bullitt, July 28, 1862 There is no grievance that is a fit object of redress by mob law. Lyceum Address, Jan. 27, 1838 Plainly, the central idea of secession, is the essence of anarchy. Inaugural Address At what point then is the approach of danger to be expected? I answer, if it ever reach us, it must spring up amongst us. It cannot come from abroad. If destruction be our lot, we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen, we must live through all time, or die by suicide. Lyceum Address, Jan. 27, 1838 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. Fragment on Government, July 1, 1854 (?) When it comes to this I should prefer emigrating to some country where they make no pretence of loving liberty to Russia, for instance, where despotism can be taken pure, and without the base alloy of hypocracy. Letter to Joshua Speed, Aug 24, 1855 on despotism I have never had a feeling politically that did not spring from the sentiments embodied in the Declaration of Independence. Address in Independence Hall, Feb. 22, 1861 Being elected to Congress, though I am very grateful to our friends, for having done it, has not pleased me as much as I expected. Letter to Joshua Speed, Oct. 22, 1846
The Presidency, even to the most experienced politicians, is no bed of roses; and Gen. Taylor, like other, found thorns within it. No human being can fill that station and escape censure. Eulogy on Zachary Taylor, July 25, 1850 I have endured a great deal of ridicule without much malice; and have received a great deal of kindness, not quite free from ridicule. I am used to it. Letter to James Hackett, Nov. 2, 1863 I don t believe in a law to prevent a man from getting rich; it would do more harm than good. So while we do not propose any war upon capital, we do wish to allow the humblest man an equal chance to get rich with everybody else. Speech at New Haven, CT, March 6, 1860