I should not wonder if there were some Kentuckians in this audience; we are close to Kentucky; but whether that be so or not, we are on elevated ground, and by speaking distinctly I should not wonder if some of the Kentuckians would hear me on the other side of the river.  For that purpose I propose to address a portion of what I have to say to the Kentuckians.  I say, then, in the first place, to the Kentuckians, that I am what they call, as I understand it, a ‘Black Republican.’  I think slavery is wrong, morally and politically.  I desire that it should be no further spread in these United States, and I should not object if it should gradually terminate in the whole Union.  While I say this for myself, I say to you Kentuckians, that I understand you differ radically with me upon this proposition; that you believe slavery is a good thing; that slavery is right; that it ought to be extended and perpetuated in this Union.  Now, there being this broad difference between us, I do not pretend, in addressing myself to you Kentuckians, to attempt proselyting you; that would be a vain effort.  I will tell you, so far as I am authorized to speak for the opposition, what we mean to do with you.  We mean to treat you, as nearly as we possibly can, as Washington, Jefferson, and Madison treated you.  We mean to leave you alone, and in no way to interfere with your institution; to abide by all and every compromise of the Constitution, and, in a word, coming back to the original proposition, to treat you, so far as degenerated men (if we have degenerated) may, according to the examples of those noble fathers—­Washington, Jefferson and Madison.  We mean to remember that you are as good as we; that there is no difference between us, other than the difference of circumstances.  We mean to recognize and bear in mind always, that you have as good hearts in your bosoms as other people, or as we claim to have, and treat you accordingly.  We mean to marry your girls, when we have a chance—­the white ones, I mean—­and I have the honor to inform you that I once did have a chance in that way.  I have told you what we mean to do.  I want to know now what you mean to do.  I often hear it intimated that you mean to divide the Union whenever a Republican, or anything like it, is elected President of the United States. [A voice—­’That is so.’] ‘That is so,’ one of them says; I wonder if he is a Kentuckian? [A voice—­’He is a Douglas man.’] Well, then, I want to know what you are going to do with your half of it?  Are you going to split the Ohio down through, and push your half off a piece?  Or are you going to keep it right alongside of us outrageous fellows?  Or are you going to build up a wall some way between your country and ours, by which that movable property of yours can’t come over here any more, to the danger of your losing it?  Do you think you can better yourselves on that subject by leaving us here under no obligation whatever to return those specimens of your movable property