I say now, however, as I have all the while said, that on the territorial question - that is, the question of extending slavery under the national auspices, - I am inflexible. I am for no compromise which assists or permits the extension of the institution on soil owned by the nation.

You know I dislike slavery; and you fully admit the abstract wrong of it.

It must now atone in blood for its complicity in wickedness.

. . . peace is a thing which a person must be willing to fight for . . .

You can tell the greatness of a man by what makes him angry

But let the past as nothing be. For the future my view is that the fight must go on.

If I gave McClellan all the men he asked for, they could not find room to lie down; they'd have to sleep standing up.