Stephen A. Douglas Quotes

• Every man must be for the United States or against it. There can be no neutrals in this war; only patriots and traitors.

  Stephen A. Douglas

  War, Men, United States

  Last public speech before his death, Chicago, Illinois, May 1, 1861.

  46 Copy quote

• I deny the right of Congress to force a slaveholding State upon an unwilling people. I deny their right to force a free State upon an unwilling people. I deny their right to force a good thing upon a people who are unwilling to receive it. The great principle is the right of every community to judge and decide for itself, whether a thing is right or wrong, whether it would be good or evil for them to adopt it; and the right of free action, the right of free thought, the right of free judgment upon the question is dearer to every true American than any other under a free government.

  Stephen A. Douglas

  War, Government, People

  Bob Blaisdell, Stephen A. Douglas (2012). “The Lincoln-Douglas Debates”, p.16, Courier Corporation

  47 Copy quote

• Slavery cannot exist a day or an hour anywhere, unless it is supported by local police regulations.

  Stephen A. Douglas

  War, Police, Slavery

  Bob Blaisdell, Stephen A. Douglas (2012). “The Lincoln-Douglas Debates”, p.80, Courier Corporation

  47 Copy quote

• Slavery is not the only question which comes up in this controversy. There is a far more important one to you, and that is, what shall be done with the free negro?

  Stephen A. Douglas

  Important, Done, Slavery

  Abraham Lincoln, Stephen A. Douglas, Paul M. Angle (1958). “The Complete Lincoln-Douglas Debates of 1858”, p.112, University of Chicago Press

  33 Copy quote

• I am now speaking of rights under the Constitution, and not of moral or religious rights. I do not discuss the morals of the people of Missouri, but let them settle that matter for themselves. I hold that the people of the slaveholding States are civilized men as well as ourselves, that they bear consciences as well as we, and that they are accountable to God and their posterity and not to us. It is for them to decide therefore the moral and religious right of the slavery question for themselves within their own limits.

  Stephen A. Douglas

  Religious, Men, Rights

  44 Copy quote

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