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.

While ever a state of feeling, such as this, shall universally, or even, very generally prevail throughout the nation, vain will be every effort, and fruitless every attempt, to subvert our national freedom.


- Abraham Lincoln, January 27, 1838
  Address Before the Young Men's Lyceum of Springfield, Illinois

Sunday, February 01, 2009

Looking back at Lincoln: On February 1, 1850


On this day in 1850, Abraham Lincoln's second son Edward (named Edward Baker Lincoln for one of Lincoln's political friends) died of pulmonary tuberculosis, after 52 days of illness. He was not quite four years old.

Of Lincoln's four sons, only his eldest, Robert Todd Lincoln, lived into adulthood.

Lincoln lost his beloved mother Nancy Hanks, a younger brother, Thomas (who died in infancy,) and his sister Sarah -- all while at a young age. Its not surprising that he struggled with melancholy for most of his life.

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posted by Maire | 2/01/2009 07:59:00 AM

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