Quotes · Quote card
Quotation from The Lincoln-Douglas Debates by Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas
“I then said, I have often repeated, and now again assert, that in my opinion our Government can endure forever, divided into free and slave States as our fathers made it, — each State having the right to prohibit, abolish or sustain slavery, just as it pleases.”
The Lincoln-Douglas Debates, Seventh Joint Debate, Alton (October 15, 1858), Douglas's opening speech (Political Debates Between Lincoln and Douglas (Columbus: Follett, Foster, 1860), Internet Archive OCR text)
Douglas restates, at the last debate, the answer he had given to the House Divided speech since July.
Citation: "I then said, I have often repeated, and now again assert, that in my opinion our Government can endure forever, divided into free and slave States as our fathers made it, — each State having the right to prohibit, abolish or sustain slavery, just as it pleases." — Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas, The Lincoln-Douglas Debates, Seventh Joint Debate, Alton (October 15, 1858), Douglas's opening speech (Political Debates Between Lincoln and Douglas (Columbus: Follett, Foster, 1860), Internet Archive OCR text). (id lincoln-douglas-debates-q7)
Portrait: Abraham Lincoln O-77 matte collodion print, Alexander Gardner, Public domain.
