How this mass of mind shall be consolidated into a victorious phalanx in 1860 is the great problem, I think, of our eventful times.

And he who could accomplish it is worthier of fame than Napoleon or Victor Emmanuel....

In this work, to achieve success, and to achieve it without sacrifice of essential principle, you can do far more than one like myself, so much younger.

Your counsel carries great weight with it; for, to be plain, there is no political letter that falls from your pen which is not copied throughout the Union." [Sidenote] Lincoln to Canisius, May 17, 1859.
This allusion was called out by two letters which Lincoln had written during the year; one declaring his opposition to the waning fallacy of know-nothingism, in which he also defined his position on "fusion." Referring to a provision lately adopted by Massachusetts to restrict naturalization, he wrote: "Massachusetts is a sovereign and independent State; and it is no privilege of mine to scold her for what she does.

Still, if from what she has done, an inference is sought to be drawn as to what I would do, I may, without impropriety, speak out, I say then, that, as I understand the Massachusetts provision, I am against its adoption in Illinois, or in any other place where I have a right to oppose it.