There are fools in the east who would abolish it by act of Congress.

For myself I do not love the system, but I love anarchy and injustice less, and if you abolish slavery you abolish also every-right of legal property, and that means chaos and barbarism.

A free people such as ours cannot thus put the knife to their throat.

If we were the serfs of a monarchy, accustomed to bow before the bidding of a king, it might be different, but a republic cannot do injustice to one section of its citizens without destroying itself." Lincoln had not taken his eyes from the stove.

He seemed to be seeing things in the fire, for he smiled to himself.
"Well," he drawled, "I reckon that some day we may have to find some sort of a king.