“No men living are more worthy to be trusted than those who toil up from poverty, – none less inclined to take or touch aught which they have not honestly earned. Let them beware of surrendering a political power which they already possess, and which, if surrendered, will surely be used to close the door of advancement against such as they, and to fix new disabilities and burdens upon them, till all of liberty be lost.”
Message to Congress; Washington, D.C., Dec. 3, 1861
“It does seem to me that the purpose in life of at least one half of the nation is that they should live comfortably at the expense of the other half.”
Remarks, Washington, D.C., 1861
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