believe that every other one can say as much.  Thus let bygones be bygones; let past differences as nothing be; and with steady eye on the real issue let us reinaugurate the good old “central idea” of the republic.  We can do it.  The human heart is with us; God is with us.  We shall again be able, not to declare that “all States as States are equal,” nor yet that “all citizens as citizens are equal,” but to renew the broader, better declaration, including both these and much more, that “all men are created equal.”

To Dr. R. Boal.

Springfield, Dec. 25, 1856.

Dear sir:-When I was at Chicago two weeks ago I saw Mr. Arnold, and from a remark of his I inferred he was thinking of the speakership, though I think he was not anxious about it.  He seemed most anxious for harmony generally, and particularly that the contested seats from Peoria and McDonough might be rightly determined.  Since I came home I had a talk with Cullom, one of our American representatives here, and he says he is for you for Speaker and also that he thinks all the Americans will be for you, unless it be Gorin, of Macon, of whom he cannot speak.  If you would like to be Speaker go right up and see Arnold.  He is talented, a practised debater, and, I think, would do himself more credit on the floor than in the Speaker’s seat.  Go and see him; and if you think fit, show him this letter.

Your friend as ever,
A. Lincoln.

1857

To John E. Rosette.  Private.

Springfield, ill., February 10, 1857.

Dear sir:—­Your note about the little paragraph in the Republican was received yesterday, since which time I have been too unwell to notice it.  I had not supposed you wrote or approved it.  The whole originated in mistake.  You know by the conversation with me that I thought the establishment of the paper unfortunate, but I always expected to throw no obstacle in its way, and to patronize it to the extent of taking and paying for one copy.  When the paper was brought to my house, my wife said to me, “Now are you going to take another worthless little paper?” I said to her evasively, “I have not directed the paper to be left.”  From this, in my absence, she sent the message to the carrier.  This is the whole story.

Yours truly,
A. Lincoln.

RESPONSE TO A DOUGLAS SPEECH

Speech in Springfield, Illinois, June 26, 1857.

Fellow-citizens:—­I am here to-night partly by the invitation of some of you, and partly by my own inclination.  Two weeks ago Judge Douglas spoke here on the several subjects of Kansas, the Dred Scott decision, and Utah.  I listened to the speech at the time, and have the report of it since.  It was intended to controvert opinions which I think just, and to assail (politically, not personally) those men who, in common with me, entertain those opinions.  For this reason I wished then, and still wish, to make some answer to it, which I now take the opportunity of doing.