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Abraham Lincoln: [at his farewell speech] My friends, no one who is not in my situation can appreciate the feelings of sadness I have at this parting. To this place and to the kindness of these people, I owe everything. Here I have lived for a quarter of a century. To you, dear friends, I owe all that I have, all that I am. I leave now, not knowing when or whether ever I may return, with a task before me is greater than that which rested upon Washington. Without the assistance of the Almighty, who attended him, I cannot succeed. With that assistance, I cannot fail. Trusting in him who can go with me and remain with and be everywhere for good, let us confidently hope that all will yet be well. Through his care commending, as I hope that in your prayers you will commend me. I bid you an affectionate farewell.
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Steven Douglas: [during the debate with Lincoln] So if you desire Negro citizenship, if you desire to let them move into our state to settle with the white man, then by all means, support Mr. Lincoln and the black Republican party who are for Negro citizenship
[crowd booing]
Abraham Lincoln: The authors of that notable instrument intended to include all men. They did not intend to declare all mean equal in all respects. They did not mean to say that all were equal in color, size, intellect, moral developments or social capacity. They define with tolerable distinctness in what respects they did consider all men created equal. Equal in certain inalienable rights. Among which are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. They did not mean to assert the obvious untruth that all were then actually enjoying this equality. Nor yet that they were about to confer them immediately upon them. They simply meant to declare the right, so that the enforcement of it might follow as fast as circumstances should permit.
Michael Eric Dyson
Extended Reading
America: Imagine the World Without Her quotes
