“The Republicans inculcate, with whatever of ability they can, that the negro is a man; that his bondage is cruelly wrong, and that the field of his oppression ought not to be enlarged. The Democrats deny his manhood; deny, or dwarf to insignificance, the wrong of his bondage; so far as possible, cru…”— Abraham Lincoln, en.wikiquote.org
“When Southern people tell us they are no more responsible for the origin of slavery than we are, I acknowledge the fact. When it is said that the institution exists, and that it is very difficult to get rid of it in any satisfactory way, I can understand and appreciate the saying. I surely will not…”— Abraham Lincoln, en.wikiquote.org
“The Republican principle, the unalterable principle, never to be lost sight of, is that slavery is wrong.”— Abraham Lincoln, en.wikiquote.org
“I say that we must not interfere with the institution of slavery in the States where it exists, because the Constitution forbids it, and the general welfare does not require us to do so. We must not withhold an efficient Fugitive Slave law, because the Constitution requires us, as I understand it, n…”— Abraham Lincoln, en.wikiquote.org
“Free labor has the inspiration of hope; pure slavery has no hope. The power of hope upon human exertion, and happiness, is wonderful. The slave-master himself has a conception of it; and hence the system of tasks among slaves. The slave whom you can not drive with the lash to break seventy-five poun…”— Abraham Lincoln, en.wikiquote.org
“We know, Southern men declare that their slaves are better off than hired laborers amongst us. How little they know, whereof they speak! There is no permanent class of hired laborers amongst us. Twenty-five years ago, I was a hired laborer. The hired laborer of yesterday, labors on his own account t…”— Abraham Lincoln, en.wikiquote.org
“The Autocrat of all the Russias will resign his crown, and proclaim his subjects free republicans sooner than will our American masters voluntarily give up their slaves.”— Abraham Lincoln, en.wikiquote.org
“I have always hated slavery, I think as much as any Abolitionist.”— Abraham Lincoln, en.wikiquote.org
“As I would not be a slave, so I would not be a master. This expresses my idea of democracy. Whatever differs from this, to the extent of the difference, is no democracy.”— Abraham Lincoln, en.wikiquote.org
“You think slavery is right and should be extended; while we think slavery is wrong and ought to be restricted. That I suppose is the rub. It certainly is the only substantial difference between us.”— Abraham Lincoln, rogerjnorton.com
“Whenever I hear any one arguing for slavery I feel a strong impulse to see it tried on him personally.”— Abraham Lincoln, rogerjnorton.com
“In giving freedom to the slave, we assure freedom to the free - honorable alike in what we give, and what we preserve. We shall nobly save, or meanly lose, the last best hope of earth. Other means may succeed; this could not fail. The way is plain, peaceful, generous, just - a way which, if followed…”— Abraham Lincoln, rogerjnorton.com
“My paramount object in this struggle is to save the Union, and is not either to save or to destroy slavery. If I could save the Union without freeing any slave I would do it, and if I could save it by freeing all the slaves I would do it; and if I could save it by freeing some and leaving others alo…”— Abraham Lincoln, rogerjnorton.com
“As I would not be a slave, so I would not be a master. This expresses my idea of democracy. Whatever differs from this, to the extent of the difference, is no democracy.”— Abraham Lincoln, rogerjnorton.com
“Those who deny freedom to others, deserve it not for themselves; and, under a just God, can not long retain it.”— Abraham Lincoln, rogerjnorton.com
“You say you will not fight to free negroes. Some of them seem willing to fight for you; but, no matter. Fight you, then exclusively to save the Union.”— Abraham Lincoln, abrahamlincolnonline.org
“One eighth of the whole population were colored slaves, not distributed generally over the Union, but localized in the Southern part of it. These slaves constituted a peculiar and powerful interest. All knew that this interest was, somehow, the cause of the war.”— Abraham Lincoln, abrahamlincolnonline.org
“I am naturally anti-slavery. If slavery is not wrong, nothing is wrong. I cannot remember when I did not so think, and feel. And yet I have never understood that the Presidency conferred upon me an unrestricted right to act officially upon this judgment and feeling.”— Abraham Lincoln, abrahamlincolnonline.org
“One section of our country believes slavery is right, and ought to be extended, while the other believes it is wrong, and ought not to be extended.”— Abraham Lincoln, abrahamlincolnonline.org
“This is a world of compensations; and he who would be no slave, must consent to have no slave.”— Abraham Lincoln, abrahamlincolnonline.org