Let us turn to the more hopeful and yet halting conclusions of Abraham
Lincoln. In his speech at Quincy, Illinois, October 15th, 1858, in the
Lincoln-Douglas Debate, he said:
"I have no purpose to introduce political and social equality
between the white and black races. There is a physical difference
between the two which, in my judgment, would probably forever forbid
their living together upon the footing of perfect equality, and
inasmuch as it becomes a necessity that there must be a difference,
I, as well as Judge Douglas, am in favor of the race to which I
belong having the superior position."[242]
In the same debate at Charleston, Ill., September 18th, 1858, he had
said:
"I will say then that I am not, nor ever have been, in favor of
bringing about, in any way, the social and political equality of the
white and black races; that I am not, nor ever have been, in favor
of making voters or jurors of negroes, nor of qualifying them to
hold office, nor to intermarry with white people; and I will say in
addition to this that there is a physical difference between the
white and black races which I believe will forever forbid the two
races living together on terms of social and political
equality."[243]
How unsatisfactory would be the status of the two races in a state
where such conditions obtained, Mr. Lincoln must have appreciated, and
so, as we have seen, he turned to the colonization of the negroes as
the real solution of the problem.