Wilson, Douglas L., ed.; Davis, Rodney O., ed.; Speed, Joshua F. 'AL to Joshua F. Speed' in 'Herndon's Informants: Letters, Interviews, and Statements About Abraham Lincoln' . Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1998. [format: book], [genre: letter]. Permission: University of Illinois Press
Persistent link to this document: http://lincoln.lib.niu.edu/file.php?file=herndon052b.html

36. AL to Joshua F. Speed ^[1].

Springfield, Aug. 24th 1855.

[Enclosure]

Dear Speed:

You know what a poor correspondent I am. Ever since I received your very agreeable letter of the 22d of May — I have been intending to write you in answer to it — You suggest that in political action now, you and I would differ — suppose we would; not quite as much, however, as you may think. You know I dislike slavery; and you fully admit the abstract wrong of it. So far there is no cause of difference. But you say that sooner than yield your legal right to the slave — especially at the bidding of those who are not themselves interested, you would see the union dissolved — I am not aware that any one is bidding you yield that right, very certainly I am not. I leave that matter entirely to yourself. I also acknowledge your rights and my obligations under the constitution, in regard to your slaves. I confess I hate to see the poor creatures hunted down; and caught, and carried back to their stripes, and unrenewed ^[2] toils; but I bite my lips, and keep quiet. In 1841, you and I had together a tedious low-water trip, on a steamboat from Louisville to St Louis — You may remember, as I well do, that from Louisville to the mouth of the Ohio, there were, on board, ten or a dozen slaves, shackled together with irons. That sight was a continual torment to me; and I see something

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