He [Stephen Douglas] is blowing out the moral lights around us, when he contends that whoever wants slaves has a right to hold them; that he is penetrating, so far as lies in his power, the human soul, and eradicating the light of reason and the love of liberty, when he is in every possible way preparing the public mind, by his vast influence, for making the institution of slavery perpetual and national.

You have confidence in yourself, which is valuable, if not an indispensable quality.

I have always found that mercy bears richer fruits than strict justice.

Almost every thing, especially of governmental policy, is an inseparable compound of the two [good and evil].

We must settle this question now -- whether in a free government the minority have the right to break it up whenever they choose. If we fail, it will go far to prove the incapability of the people to govern themselves.

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

I am greatly obliged to you, and to all who have come forward at the call of their country.