“Still，thequestionisnotwhethertheLouisianagovernment，asitstands，isquiteallthatisdesirable。Thequestionis，willitbewisertotakeitasitisandhelptoimproveit，ortorejectanddisperseit？CanLouisianabebroughtintoproperpracticalrelationwiththeUnionsoonerbysustainingorbydiscardinghernewStategovernment？SometwelvethousandvotersintheheretoforeslaveStateofLouisianahaveswornallegiancetotheUnion，assumedtobetherightfulpoliticalpoweroftheState，heldelections，organizedaStategovernment，adoptedafreeStateconstitution，givingthebenefitofpublicschoolsequallytoblackandwhiteandempoweringtheLegislaturetoconfertheelectivefranchiseuponthecoloredman。TheirLegislaturehasalreadyvotedtoratifytheconstitutionalamendmentrecentlypassedbyCongressabolishingslaverythroughoutthenation。These12，000
personsarethusfullycommittedtotheUnionandtoperpetualfreedomintheState——committedtotheverythings，andnearlyallthethings，thenationwants——andtheyaskthenation’srecognitionanditsassistancetomakegoodtheircommittal。
“Now，ifwerejectandspurnthem，wedoourutmosttodisorganizeanddispersethem。We，ineffect，saytothewhiteman：Youareworthlessorworse；wewillneitherhelpyounorbehelpedbyyou。Totheblackswesay：Thiscupoflibertywhichthese，youroldmasters，holdtoyourlipswewilldashfromyouandleaveyoutothechancesofgatheringthespilledandscatteredcontentsinsomevagueandundefinedwhen，whereandhow。Ifthiscourse，discouragingandparalyzingbothwhiteandblack，hasanytendencytobringLouisianaintoproperpracticalrelationswiththeUnion，Ihavesofarbeenunabletoperceiveit。If，onthecontrary，werecognizeandsustainthenewgovernmentofLouisiana，theconverseofallthisismadetrue。Weencouragetheheartsandnervethearmsof12，000toadheretotheirwork，andargueforit，andproselyteforit，andfightforit，andfeedit，andgrowit，andripenittoacompletesuccess。Thecoloredman，too，inseeingallunitedforhim，isinspiredwithvigilanceandenergy，anddaring，tothesameend。Grantthathedesirestheelectivefranchise，willhenotattainitsoonerbysavingthealreadyadvancedstepstowarditthanbyrunningbackwardoverthem？ConcedethatthenewgovernmentofLouisianaisonlytowhatitshouldbeastheeggistothefowl，weshallsoonerhavethefowlbyhatchingtheeggthanbysmashingit。
“Again，ifwerejectLouisiana，wealsorejectonevoteinfavoroftheproposedamendmenttothenationalConstitution。
Tomeetthispropositionithasbeenarguedthatnomorethanthree-fourthsofthoseStateswhichhavenotattemptedsecessionarenecessarytovalidlyratifytheamendmentIdonotcommitmyselfagainstthisfurtherthantosaythatsucharatificationwouldbequestionable，andsuretobepersistentlyquestioned，whilearatificationbythree-fourthsofalltheStateswouldbeunquestionedandunquestionable。Irepeatthequestion：CanLouisianabebroughtintoproperpracticalrelationwiththeUnionsoonerbysustainingorbydiscardinghernewStategovernment？WhathasbeensaidofLouisianawillapplygenerallytootherStates。AndyetsogreatpeculiaritiespertaintoeachState，andsuchimportantandsuddenchangesoccurinthesameState，andwithalsonewandunprecedentedisthewholecasethatnoexclusiveandinflexibleplancansafelybeprescribedastodetailsandcollaterals。Suchexclusiveandinflexibleplanwouldsurelybecomeanewentanglement。Importantprinciplesmayandmustbeinflexible。Inthepresentsituation，asthephrasegoes，itmaybemydutytomakesomenewannouncementtothepeopleoftheSouth。Iamconsideringandshallnotfailtoactwhensatisfiedthatactionwillbeproper。“