At this early stage in his career Abraham Lincoln began his opposition
to slavery which eventually resulted in his giving liberty to four
million human beings. This Legislature passed the following resolutions
on slavery:
“Resolved by the General Assembly, of the State of Illinois: That we
highly disapprove of the formation of Abolition societies and of the
doctrines promulgated by them.
“That the right of property in slaves is sacred to the slave-holding
States by the Federal Constitution, and that they cannot be deprived of
that right without their consent,
“That the General Government cannot abolish slavery in the District of
Columbia against the consent of the citizens of said district without a
manifest breach of good faith.”
Against this resolution Lincoln entered a protest, but only succeeded in
getting one man in the Legislature to sign the protest with him.
The protest was as follows:
“Resolutions upon the subject of domestic slavery having passed both
branches of the General Assembly at its present session, the undersigned
hereby protest against the passage of the same.
“They believe that the institution of slavery is founded on both
injustice and bad policy, but that the promulgation of abolition
doctrines tends rather to increase than abate its evils.
“They believe that the Congress of the United States has no power under
the Constitution to interfere with the institution of slavery in the
different States.
“They believe that the Congress of the United States has the power under
the Constitution to abolish slavery in the District of Columbia, but
that the power ought not to be exercised unless at the request of the
people of the District.
“The difference between these opinions and those contained in the above
resolutions is their reason for entering this protest.
“DAN STONE,
“A. LINCOLN,
“Representatives from the county of Sangamon.”