Famous Speeches of American Independence - Abraham Lincoln
"If you will remember the Words of Saint Germain during the time of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, He said, "God has given America to the Free," and the Free are those who want the Light. When Lincoln stood alone for that Freedom to be maintained, he had to face his God, and the God Powers answered him."
Beloved Godfre - The Voice of the "I AM" 1986:11:6
Abraham Lincoln
'Address in Independence Hall'
BACKGROUND
Less than two months before the American Civil War began on April 12, 1861, Abraham Lincoln made his inaugural journey to Washington as president-elect. He stopped at Independence Hall in Philadelphia at the hallowed site where the Declaration of Independence had been signed eighty-five years ago; whereby he proceeded to make this impromptu speech.
HIS MOTIVATION
Lincoln had previously turned to the Declaration for support in his push for equality in the form of Liberty to all - "the principle that clears the path for all, gives hope to all". Here he makes it clear that if the Union cannot be saved upon that principle, "it will be truly awful."
THEME OF HIS FOUR SPEECHES
Lincoln constantly drew on the Founding Fathers' vision embodied within the Declaration of Independence when promoting Liberty, Equality, Justice and Humanity for all men within the context of the threatening Civil War. "So I say in relation to the principle that all men are created equal, let it be as nearly reached as we can. If we cannot give freedom to every creature, let us do nothing that will impose slavery upon any other creature."
KEY FACTS STATED IN HIS FOUR SPEECHES
Lincoln often referred to the necessity of the 'Southern Compromise' on the slavery issue that, in in his eyes, had made the United States Constitution an imperfect 'silver frame' for the 'golden apple' portrait of equality for all men as visioned within the Declaration of Independence.
"It may be argued that there are certain conditions that make necessities and impose them upon us, and to the extent that a necessity is imposed upon a man he must submit to it. I think that was the condition in which we found ourselves when we established this government.
We had slavery among us, we could not get our constitution unless we permitted them to remain in slavery, we could not secure the good we did secure if we grasped for more, and having by necessity submitted to that much, it does not destroy the principle that is the charter of our liberties. Let that charter stand as our standard.
"The Savior, I suppose, did not expect that any human creature could be perfect as the Father in Heaven; but He said, 'As your Father in Heaven is perfect, be ye also perfect.' He set that up as a standard, and he who did most towards reaching that standard, attained the highest degree of moral perfection.
So I say in relation to the principle that all men are created equal, let it be as nearly reached as we can."