ABRAHAM LINCOLN (1809-1865) In a strict sense of the term, Lincoln was not a literary man: he wrote nothing with merely literary intent, and yet his orations and his state papers are so distinctive in style and material that it is impossible to exclude them even from the most exclusive collection of American literary models. What he wrote came from depths of experience and feeling that made impossible all mere ornament and all deliberate literary devices for effect. His language is simple. precise, compact, sun-clear. In all that he wrote there was sincerity, and tremendous earnestness, and inflexible honesty. At nothing she has produced can America point with more pride than at the literary remains of Abraham Lincoln. FAREWELL ADDRESS AT SPRING- My Friends: No one, not in my situation, can appreciate my feeling of sadness at this parting. To this place, and the kindness of these people, I owe everything. Here I have lived a quarter of a century, and have passed from a young to an old man. Here my children have been 10 born, and one is buried. I now leave, not knowing when or whether ever I may return, with a task before me greater than that which rested upon Washington. Without the assistance of that is Divine Being who ever attended him, I cannot succeed. With that assistance, I cannot fail. Trusting in Him who can go with me, and remains with you, and be everywhere for good, let us confidently 20 hope that all will yet be well. To His care commending you, as I hope in your prayers you will commend me, I bid you an affectionate farewell. I fully recognize the rightful authority of the people over the whole subject, to be exercised in either of the modes prescribed in the instrument itself; and I 5 should, under existing circumstances, favor rather than oppose a fair opportunity being afforded the people to act upon it. I will venture to add that to me the convention mode seems preferable, in that it allows amendments to originate with the people themselves, instead of only permitting them to take or reject propositions originated by others not especially chosen for the purpose, and which might not be precisely such as they would wish to either accept or refuse. I understand a proposed amendment to the Constitution — which amendment, however, I have not seen has passed Congress, to the effect that the Federal Government shall never interfere with the domestic institutions of the States, including that of persons held to service. To avoid misconstruction of what I have said, I depart from 25 my purpose not to speak of particular amendments so far as to say that, holding such a provision to now be implied constitutional law, I have no objection to its being made express and irrevocable. This country, with its institutions, be- 30 longs to the people who inhabit it. Whenever they shall grow weary of the existing government, they can exercise their constitutional right of amending it, or their revolutionary right to dismember or 35 overthrow it. I cannot be ignorant of the fact that many worthy and patriotic citizens are desirous of having the National Constitution amended. While I make no recommendation of amendments, 49 The chief magistrate derives all his authority from the people, and they have conferred none upon him to fix terms for the separation of the States. The people themselves can do this also if they choose; but the executive, as such, has nothing to do with it. His duty is to administer the present government, as it came to his. hands, and to transmit it, unimpaired by him, to his successor. Why should there not be a patient con |