Hi,
I read your question and thought to myself "When was he not talking
about that?" But I did go through his writings and picked out a few
areas that might be of the type you are looking for, and found a link
to his entire writings on the Gutenberg Project, which is a 3m text
download. You may want to right click on the link and use the SaveAs
option to save it to your computer, instead of opening it in your
browser.
Though these passages touch on the spirit of your question you will
find that Mr. Lincoln never stated a "requirement" to the American
people, but used the word often when addressing the responsibility of
his own office and the other offices of the Government.
From the entire writings for Lincoln
http://gutenberg.unipmn.it/mirror/etext02/lnent10.txt
PLATFORM OF THE UNION NATIONAL CONVENTION
HELD IN BALTIMORE, MD., JUNE 7 AND 8, 1864.
1. Resolved, That it is the highest duty of every American citizen
to maintain against all their enemies the integrity of the Union and
the paramount authority of the Constitution and laws of the United
States; and that, laying aside all differences of political opinion,
we pledge ourselves, as Union men, animated by a common sentiment and
aiming at a common object, to do everything in our power to aid the
Government in quelling by force of arms the rebellion now raging
against its authority, and in bringing to the punishment due to their
crimes the rebels and traitors arrayed against it.
OPPOSITION TO MOB-RULE
ADDRESS BEFORE THE YOUNG MEN' S LYCEUM OF SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS.
January 27, 1837.
Let every American, every lover of liberty, every
well-wisher to his posterity swear by the blood of the Revolution
never to violate in the least particular the laws of the country,
and never to tolerate their violation by others. As the patriots
of seventy-six did to the support of the Declaration of
Independence, so to the support of the Constitution and laws let
every American pledge his life, his property, and his sacred
honor. Let every man remember that to violate the law is to
trample on the blood of his father, and to tear the charter of
his own and his children's liberty. Let reverence for the laws
be breathed by every American mother to the lisping babe that
prattles on her lap; let it be taught in schools, in seminaries,
and in colleges; let it be written in primers, spelling books,
and in almanacs; let it be preached from the pulpit, proclaimed
in legislative halls, and enforced in courts of justice. And, in
short, let it become the political religion of the nation; and
let the old and the young, the rich and the poor, the grave and
the gay of all sexes and tongues and colors and conditions,
sacrifice unceasingly upon its altars.
REMARKS AT THE MEETING AT SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS
TO CELEBRATE LINCOLN'S ELECTION,
NOVEMBER 20, 1860
Let us at all times remember that all American citizens are
brothers of a common country, and should dwell together in the bonds
of fraternal feeling.
LECTURE ON LIBERTY
ADDRESS AT SANITARY FAIR IN BALTIMORE,
APRIL 18, 1864.
"The world has never had a good definition of the word liberty, and
the American people, just now, are much in want of one. We all
declare for liberty; but in using the same word we do not all mean
the same thing. With some the word liberty may mean for each man to
do as he pleases with himself, and the product of his labor; while
with others the same word may mean for some men to do as they please
with other men, and the product of other men's labor. Here are two,
not only different, but incompatible things, called by the same name,
liberty. And it follows that each of the things is, by the
respective parties, called by two different and incompatible names--
liberty and tyranny."
Thanks,
webadept-ga |
Clarification of Answer by
webadept-ga
on
09 Sep 2002 18:25 PDT
Hi again,
We have all the written and most of the speeches he ever said here in
that text file, and I can search text pretty fast.
Here are some more quotes. I don't know if you have ever read Lincoln,
but he's really good, so I didn't mind going through it again.
---
Let us return it to the position
our fathers gave it, and there let it rest in peace. Let us
readopt the Declaration of Independence, and with it the
practices and policy which harmonize with it. Let North and
South, let all Americans--let all lovers of liberty everywhere
join in the great and good work. If we do this, we shall not
only have saved the Union, but we shall have so saved it as to
make and to keep it forever worthy of the saving. We shall have
so saved it that the succeeding millions of free happy people the
world over shall rise up and call us blessed to the latest
generations.
----
The Union is under-going a fearful strain; but it is a stout old
ship, and has weathered many a hard blow, and "the stars in their
courses," aye, an invisible Power, greater than the puny efforts
of men, will fight for us. But we ourselves must not decline the
burden of responsibility, nor take counsel of unworthy passions.
Whatever duty urges us to do or to omit must be done or omitted;
and the recklessness with which our adversaries break the laws,
or counsel their violation, should afford no example for us.
Therefore, let us revere the Declaration of Independence; let us
continue to obey the Constitution and the laws; let us keep step
to the music of the Union.
------
As the patriots of seventy-six did to the support of the Declaration
of Independence, so to the support of the Constitution and laws let
every American pledge his life, his property, and his sacred honor.
I think that last one is it.
Glad to have you here, and in the future it might be good to hold off
rating the answer, and closing the question, until the Researcher has
a chance to get back to you. There's nothing you can do about it now,
so don't worry about it, just letting you know that most of us will
work, and continue researching until all resources are depleted, or an
answer is found.
Thanks,
webadept-ga
|
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