I Have Reached The Summit Of My

I Have Reached The Summit Of My Ambition.

If You Could Extend The Elective Franchise To All Persons Of Color Who Can Read The Constitution Of The United States In English And Write Their Names And To All Persons Of Color Who Own Real Estate Valued At Not Less Than Two Hundred And Fifty Dollars And Pay Taxes Thereon, And Would Completely Disarm The Adversary. This You Can Do With Perfect Safety. And As A Consequence, The Radicals, Who Are Wild Upon Negro Franchise, Will Be Completely Foiled In Their Attempts To Keep The Southern States From Renewing Their Relations To The Union.

I Have Been Almost Overwhelmed By The Announcement Of The Sad Event [lincoln's Assassination] Which Has So Recently Occurred. I Feel Incompetent To Perform Duties So Important And Responsible As Those Which Have Been So Unexpectedly Thrown Upon Me.

Tyranny And Despotism Can Be Exercised By Many, More Rigorously, More Vigorously, And More Severely, Than By One.

It Is Our Sacred Duty To Transmit Unimpaired To Our Posterity The Blessings Of Liberty Which Were Bequeathed To Us By The Founders Of The Republic.