The assertion that "all men are created equal" was
of no practical use in effecting our separation from Great Britain; and
it was placed in the Declaration not for that, but for future use. Its
authors meant it to be--as thank God, it is now proving
itself--stumbling-block to all those who in after times might seek to
turn a free people back into the hateful paths of despotism. They knew
the proneness of prosperity to breed tyrants, and they meant when such
should reappear in this fair land and commence their vocation, they
should find left for them at least one hard nut to crack.
I have now briefly expressed my view of the meaning and object of that
part of the Declaration of Independence which declares that "all men are
created equal."
Now let us hear Judge Douglas's view of the same subject, as I find it in
the printed report of his late speech. Here it is:
"No man can vindicate the character, motives, and conduct of the signers
of the Declaration of Independence, except upon the hypothesis that they
referred to the white race alone, and not to the African, when they
declared all men to have been created equal; that they were speaking of
British subjects on this continent being equal to British subjects born
and residing in Great Britain; that they were entitled to the same
inalienable rights, and among them were enumerated life, liberty, and the
pursuit of happiness.
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