a house divided against itself cannot stand i believe this government cannot endure permanently halfslave and halffree i do not expect the union to be dissolvedi do not expect the house to fall but i do expect it will cease... ...
Let the people on both sides keep their self-possession, and just as other clouds have cleared away in due time, so will this, and this great nation shall continue to prosper as before.
If the great American people will only keep their temper, on both sides of the line, the troubles will come to an end, and the question which now distracts the country will be settled just as surely as all other... ...
