The great bulk of the legal voters of the South were men who owned no slaves; their homes were generally in the hills and poor country; their facilities for educating their children, even up to the point of reading and writing, were very limited; their interest in the contest was very meagre--what there was, if they had been capable of seeing it, was with the North; they too needed emancipation.

...I never heard him abuse an enemy. Some of the cruel things said about President Lincoln, particularly in the North, used to pierce him to the heart; but never in my presence did he evince a revengeful disposition.

Really, Mr. Lincoln, I have had enough of this show business.

It was my fortune, or misfortune, to be called to the office of Chief Executive without any previous political training.

Labor disgraces no man; unfortunately, you occasionally find men who disgrace labor.

In politics I am growing indifferent - I would like it, if I could now return to my planting and books at home

Jesse has a new dog. You may have noticed that his former pets have been peculiarly unfortunate. When this dog dies every employee in the White House will be at once discharged.