I have always hated slavery, I think as much as any Abolitionist.

Where there is a man who does not labor because another is compelled to work for him, there slavery is.

As I would not be a slave, so I would not be a master. This expresses my idea of democracy. Whatever differs from this, to the extent of the difference, is no democracy.

A house divided against itself cannot stand. I believe this government cannot endure permanently half slave and half free.

In giving freedom to the slave, we assure freedom to the free.

Although volume upon volume is written to prove slavery a very good thing, we never hear of the man who wishes to take the good of it, by being a slave himself.