Thursday, June 6, 2013

1850-1859---"A House Divided . . ."



JUNE 16, 1858:          

Abraham Lincoln, opening his Senatorial campaign in Springfield, Illinois, makes his famous “House Divided” speech, the core principle of which is as follows:

"'A house divided against itself cannot stand.' I believe this government cannot endure permanently half slave and half free. I do not expect the Union to be dissolved -- I do not expect the house to fall -- but I do expect it will cease to be divided. Either the opponents of slavery will arrest the further spread of it, and place it where the public mind shall rest in the belief it is in the course of ultimate extinction; or its advocates will push it forward, till it shall become alike lawful in all the States, old as well as new -- North as well as South." 

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