upon my imagination so deeply as the struggle here at Trenton, New Jersey.  The crossing of the river, the contest with the Hessians, the great hardships endured at that time,—­all fixed themselves upon my memory more than any single Revolutionary event; and you all know, for you have all been boys, how those early impressions last longer than any others.  I recollect thinking then, boy even though I was, that there must have been something more than common that these men struggled for.  I am exceedingly anxious that that thing—­that something even more than national independence; that something that held out a great promise to all the people of the world for all time to come,—­I am exceedingly anxious that this Union, the Constitution, and the liberties of the people shall be perpetuated in accordance with the original idea for which the struggle was made, and I shall be most happy indeed if I shall be an humble instrument in the hands of the Almighty, and of this, His most chosen people, for perpetuating the object of that great struggle.

Address in Independence Hall, Philadelphia.  February 22, 1861

I am filled with deep emotion at finding myself standing in this place, where were collected together the wisdom, the patriotism, the devotion to principle, from which sprang the institutions under which we live.

You have kindly suggested to me that in my hands is the task of restoring peace to our distracted country.  I can say in return, sir, that all the political sentiments I entertain have been drawn, so far as I have been able to draw them, from the sentiments which originated in and were given to the world from this hall.  I have never had a feeling, politically, that did not spring from the sentiments embodied in the Declaration of Independence.

I have often pondered over the dangers which were incurred by the men who assembled here and framed and adopted that Declaration.  I have pondered over the toils that were endured by the officers and soldiers of the army who achieved that independence.  I have often inquired of myself what great principle or idea it was that kept this Confederacy so long together.  It was not the mere matter of separation of the colonies from the motherland, but that sentiment in the Declaration of Independence which gave liberty not alone to the people of this country, but hope to all the world, for all future time.  It was that which gave promise that in due time the weights would be lifted from the shoulders of all men, and that all should have an equal chance.  This is the sentiment embodied in the Declaration of Independence.

Now, my friends, can this country be saved on that basis?  If it can, I will consider myself one of the happiest men in the world if I can help to save it.  If it cannot be saved upon that principle, it will be truly awful.  But if this country cannot be saved without giving up that principle, I was about to say I would rather be assassinated on this spot than surrender it.