Abraham
Lincoln, Speech,
"If
we could first know where we are, and whither we are tending, we could better
judge what to do, and how to do it. We are now far into the fifth year since
policy was initiated with the avowed object and confident promise of putting an
end to slavery agitation. Under the operation of that policy, that agitation
has not only ceased, but has constantly augmented. In my opinion, it will not
cease until a crisis shall have been reached and passed. A house divided
against itself cannot stand. I believe that government
cannot endure permanently, half slave and half free. . . . I do not expect the
Have we no tendency to the
latter condition?