Fellow-Citizens of the United States:
We were struck a bloody blow just four short days ago. In anger and apprehension over the democratic process, the South struck down your chosen leader before he could even take the Oath. They were at once apprehensive about Abe’s politics, about his commitment to abolition of that most horrid of institutions.
Abe was first and foremost concerned with the unity of this Nation, which has endured unimpeded four score and three years. Now any hope of unity has died with Abe.
We are presently engaged in a great civil war, testing whether this nation conceived in unity and dedicated to liberty can endure terrorism perpetrated by crazed children, poisoned by -dangerous ideas of slavery and violent retaliation.
We have come here to eulogize our president-elect, and immortalize him as a martyr for the great cause of liberty. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this. Yet our efforts pale in comparison to his sacrifice; his blood-stained carriage has done more to immortalize the greatest moral struggle of our time than any of our efforts ever could. History will little note what was said here in this chamber, but it can and will never forget Abe’s martyrdom.
We must now dedicate ourselves to his mission of unity and liberty – from this honored martyr we must increase our devotion to the abolitionist cause and stamping out the Southern demon. Abe shall not have died in vain. This nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom.
The Confederate South has fired the first shots in this war, but it will not be the last. No, the last shot fired when we march on Montgomery and that traitor Jefferson Davis lies in the streets dead where Almighty God shall judge him as He sees fit. Therefore I resolve to declare War on the Confederate States of America and exact revenge for Abe’s merciless slaughter. This government of the people, by the people, for the people that he so long defended shall, despite the best efforts of some, not perish from this world. My heart is in the coffin there with Abe, and I will not rest till it comes back to me.