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The legal right of the Southern people to reclaim their fugitives I have constantly admitted. The legal right of Congress to interfere with their institution in the states, I have constantly denied.
Abraham Lincoln
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Lincoln acknowledged the Southern states' rights while opposing federal interference in their institutions.

In this quote, Abraham Lincoln expresses a nuanced view of the rights of Southern people concerning their escaped slaves, acknowledging their legal right to reclaim them. He contrasts this with his firm belief that Congress should not intervene in the institution of slavery within the states, highlighting the complex tensions between state rights and federal authority during his time.

Themes

SlaveryLawStates' RightsFederalismLincoln

In practice

Example use cases

This quote could be used in a debate about states' rights and federal intervention.

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