A House-Divided

[maharba]

In his 1858 House Divided address, Abraham Lincoln was now advancing Abolitionist doctrines. But the U.S. Constitution made written provisions for slavery. Abolitionists wanted the Constitution done away with.

"I believe this government cannot endure, permanently half slave and half free."

But for 70 years this 'more perfect Union' had endured, until disunionists kept a constant lobbying for its destruction. The old insane man John Brown was funded by abolitionists, had intent to destroy the Union and Constitution. Robert E. Lee put a sudden end to that abolitionist scheme, at Harpers Ferry.

"I do not expect the Union to be dissolved -- I do not expect
the house to fall -- but I do expect it will cease to be divided."

"...such decision is probably coming, and will soon be
upon us, unless the power of the present political dynasty
shall be met and overthrown."

"...and we shall awake to the reality, instead, that the Supreme Court has made Illinois a slave State.
"To meet and overthrow the power of that dynasty, is the work now before...This is what we have to do."

Lincoln falsely parodied Chief Justice Taney with an alarmist prediction. He urges in the House Divided speech to overthrow the dynasty, the work before us to do. Even Lincoln's friends and advisors did not like this speech, telling him it cost him the (Senate) election. They appear to have anticipated what the South heard there. Another abolitionist who both disdained the Constitution and reviled its Highest Court.