Abraham Lincoln:
Fragment of the Constitution and the Union January
1861
“All this is not the result of accident. It has a
philosophical cause. Without the Constitution and the Union, we could not have
attained the results; but even these, are not the primary cause of our great
prosperity. There was something back of these, entwining itself more closely
about the human heart. That something, is the principle of “Liberty to all”--the
principle that clears the path for all--gives hope to all-- and, by
consequence, enterprise, and industry to all.
The expression of that principle, in our Declaration
of Independence, was most happy, and fortunate. Without this, as well as with
it, we could have declared our independence of Great Britain; but without it,
we could not, I think, have secured our free government, and consequent
prosperity. No oppressed, people will fight, and endure, as our fathers did,
without the promise of something better, than a mere change of masters.
The assertion of that principle, at that time, was the
word, “fitly spoken” which has proved an “apple of gold” to us. The Union, and
the Constitution, are the pitcher of silver, subsequently framed around it. The
picture was made, not to conceal, or destroy the apple; But to adorn, and
preserve it. The picture was made for the apple--not the apple for the picture.”
This never appeared in Lincoln's public speeches, but
it is possible that he composed it while writing his First Inaugural Address.
It draws upon the King James translation of proverbs 25:11; “A word fitly
spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.”-- to describe the
relationship between the principles of the Declaration and the purpose of the
Constitution.
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