My Own Convictions As To Negro Slavery

Secession Belongs To A Different Class Of Remedies. It Is To Be Justified Upon The Basis That The States Are Sovereign. There Was A Time When None Denied It. I Hope The Time May Come Again, When A Better Comprehension Of The Theory Of Our Government, And The Inalienable Rights Of The People Of The States, Will Prevent Any One From Denying That Each State Is A Sovereign, And Thus May Reclaim The Grants Which It Has Made To Any Agent Whomsoever.

The Slave Must Be Made Fit For His Freedom By Education And Discipline, And Thus Made Unfit For Slavery. And As Soon As He Becomes Unfit For Slavery, The Master Will No Longer Desire To Hold Him As A Slave.

God Forbid That The Day Should Ever Come When To Be True To My Constituents Is To Be Hostile To The Union.

We Protest Solemnly In The Face Of Mankind, That We Desire Peace At Any Sacrifice, Save That Of Honor.

The Past Is Dead; Let It Bury Its Dead, Its Hopes And Its Aspirations; Before You Lies The Future-a Future Full Of Golden Promise.