42 SPEECHES [Mar. 5
right; but thinking it wrong, as we do can we
yield to them? Can we cast our votes with their
view, and against our own? In view of our
moral, social, and political responsibilities, can
we do this?
Wrong as we think slavery is, we can yet af-
ford to let it alone where it is, because that much
is due to the necessity arising from its actual
presence in the nation; but can we, while our
votes will prevent it, allow it to spread into the
national Territories and to overrun us here in
these free States?
If our sense of duty forbids this, then let us
stand by our duty fearlessly and effectively. Let
us be diverted by none of those sophistical con-
trivances wherewith we are so industriously plied
and belabored — contrivances such as groping for
some middle ground between the right and the
wrong; vain as the search for a man who should
be neither a living man nor a dead man; such as
a policy of "don't care" on a question about which
all true men do care; such as Union appeals be-
seeching true Union men to yield to Disunionists,
reversing the divine rule, and calling, not the sin-
ners, but the righteous to repentance; such as
invocations to Washington, imploring men to un-
say what Washington said and undo what Wash-
ington did.
Neither let us be slandered from our duty by
false accusations against us, nor frightened from
it by menaces of destruction to the government,
nor of dungeons to ourselves. Let us have faith
that right makes might; and in that faith let us
to the end dare to do our duty as we understand
it.
