I can not but hate the prospect of slavery's expansion. I hate it because of the monstrous injustice of slavery itself. I hate it because it deprives our republican example of its just influence in the world-enables the enemies of free institutions, with plausibility, to taunt us as hypocrites-causes the real friends of freedom to doubt our sincerity.

In any future great national trial, compared with the men of this, we shall have as weak, and as strong; as silly and as wise; asbad and good.

Truth is generally the best vindication against slander

How many legs does a dog have if you call the tail a leg? Four. Calling a tail a leg doesn't make it a leg.

I believe that every individual is naturally entitled to do as he pleases with himself and the fruits of his labor, so far as it in no way interferes with any other men's rights.

My Dear McClellan, if you don't want to use the army I should like to borrow it for a while. Yours respectfully.

Most folks are as happy as they make up their minds to be.