"The Judge has alluded to the Declaration of Independence, and insisted that negroes are not included in that Declaration; and that it is a slander upon the framers of that instrument, to suppose that negroes were meant therein; and he asks you: Is it possible to believe that Mister Jefferson, who penned the immortal paper, could have supposed himself applying the language of that instrument to the negro race, and yet held a portion of that race in slavery? Would he not at once have freed them? I only have to remark upon this part of the Judge's speech, and that, too, very briefly, for I shall not detain myself, or you, upon that point for any great length of time, that I believe the entire records of the world, from the date of the Declaration of Independence up to within three years ago, may be searched in vain for one single affirmation, from one single man, that the negro was not included in the Declaration of Independence; I think I may defy Judge Douglas to show that he ever said so, that Washington ever said so, that any President ever said so, that any member of Congress ever said so, or that any living man upon the whole earth ever said so, until the necessities of the present policy of the Democratic Party, in regard to slavery, had to invent that affirmation."
Quote Details
Added by wikiquote-import-bot
Unverified quote
0 likes
Original Language: English
Available Languages (1)
Sources
Abraham Lincoln, Fifth Lincoln-Douglas Debate (7 October 1858)
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Democratic_Party_(United_States)
Revision History
No revisions have been submitted for this quote.
Categories
Democratic Party (United States)
175 quotes on TrueQuotesView all quotes by Democratic Party (United States) →
Related Quotes
"Democrats believe that every American - regardless of income, geography, race, or disability - should be able to reac…"
"Today's Democratic Party knows that we can protect the environment and expand the economy. We believe we can create m…"
"Today's Democratic Party believes the first responsibility of government is law and order. Four years ago, crime in A…"
"The Democratic Party stands behind the right of every woman to choose, consistent with Roe v. Wade, and regardless of…"
"We cannot be the world's policeman, and we must be discriminating in our approach. But where the stakes are high, whe…"
"For eight years, the Democratic Party's new thinking has helped America reach unparalleled heights of prosperity, pro…"
"Today's Democratic Party believes that America must put our families first. The Republican budget tried to take Big B…"
"Today's Democratic Party will stand firmly against the Republican assault on education. Cutting education as we move …"
"It was disheartening to imagine the next two years with a Republican-controlled House and Senate. The political battl…"
"They do not object to negroes voting on account of ignorance, but on account of color... If every negro in Mississipp…"