e
most powerful upon the face of the earth, and if we only adhere to
that principle we can go forward increasing in territory, in power,
in strength, and in glory, until the Republic of America shall
be the North Star that shall guide the friends of freedom throughout
the civilized world. I believe that his new doctrine preached by
Mr. Lincoln will dissolve the Union if it succeeds; trying to array
all the Northern States in one body against the Southern; to excite
a sectional war between the free States and the slave States in
order that one or the other may be driven to the wall."

Mr. Lincoln said in reply:

"I think and will try to show, that the repeal of the Missouri
Compromise is wrong--wrong in its direct effect, letting slavery
into Kansas and Nebraska; wrong in its prospective principle,
allowing it to spread to every other part of the wide world where
men can be found inclined to take it. This declared indifference,
but as I must think covert zeal for the spread of slavery, I cannot
but hate. I hate it because of the monstrous injustice of slavery
itself. I hate it because it deprives our Republic of an example of
its just influence in the world--enables the enemies of free
institutions with plausibility to taunt us as hypocrites. I have no
prejudices against the Southern people; they are just what we would
be in their situation. If slavery did now exist amongst us we
would not instantly give it up. This I believe of the masses North
and South. When the Southern people tell us they are no more
responsible for the origin of slavery than we, I acknowledge the
fact. When it is said that the institution exists, and that it is
very difficult to get rid of in any satisfactory way, I can understand
and appreciate the same. I surely will not blame them for what
I should not know how to do myself. If all earthly powers were
given me, I should not know what to do as to the existing
institution."

Declaring that he did not advocate freeing the negroes, and making
them our political and social equals, but suggesting that
gradual systems of emancipation might be adopted by the States, he
added, "But for their tardiness in this, I will not undertake to
judge our brethren of the South. But all this to my judgment
furnishes no more excuse for permitting slavery to go into our free
territory than it would for reviving the African slave trade by
law."

He then added:

"I have no purpose directly or indirec