Ithankyou，dearSir，forthecopyyouhavebeensokindastosendmeofthelettertoyourconstituentsontheMissouriquestion。
Itisaperfectjustificationtothem。Ihadforalongtimeceasedtoreadnewspapers，orpayanyattentiontopublicaffairs，confidenttheywereingoodhands，andcontenttobeapassengerinourbarktotheshorefromwhichIamnotdistant。Butthismomentousquestion，likeafirebellinthenight，awakenedandfilledmewithterror。I
considereditatonceastheknelloftheUnion。Itishushed，indeed，forthemoment。Butthisisareprieveonly，notafinalsentence。Ageographicalline，coincidingwithamarkedprinciple，moralandpolitical，onceconceivedandhelduptotheangrypassionsofmen，willneverbeobliterated；andeverynewirritationwillmarkitdeeperanddeeper。Icansay，withconscioustruth，thatthereisnotamanonearthwhowouldsacrificemorethanIwouldtorelieveusfromthisheavyreproach，inany_practicable_way。Thecessionofthatkindofproperty，forsoitismisnamed，isabagatellewhichwouldnotcostmeasecondthought，if，inthatway，ageneralemancipationand_expatriation_couldbeeffected；andgradually，andwithduesacrifices，Ithinkitmightbe。Butasitis，wehavethewolfbytheears，andwecanneitherholdhim，norsafelylethimgo。
Justiceisinonescale，andself-preservationintheother。OfonethingIamcertain，thatasthepassageofslavesfromoneStatetoanother，wouldnotmakeaslaveofasinglehumanbeingwhowouldnotbesowithoutit，sotheirdiffusionoveragreatersurfacewouldmakethemindividuallyhappier，andproportionallyfacilitatetheaccomplishmentoftheiremancipation，bydividingtheburthenonagreaternumberofcoadjutors。Anabstinencetoo，fromthisactofpower，wouldremovethejealousyexcitedbytheundertakingofCongresstoregulatetheconditionofthedifferentdescriptionsofmencomposingaState。ThiscertainlyistheexclusiverightofeveryState，whichnothingintheconstitutionhastakenfromthemandgiventotheGeneralGovernment。CouldCongress，forexample，say，thatthenon-freemenofConnecticutshallbefreemen，orthattheyshallnotemigrateintoanyotherState?
IregretthatIamnowtodieinthebelief，thattheuselesssacrificeofthemselvesbythegenerationof1776，toacquireself-governmentandhappinesstotheircountry，istobethrownawaybytheunwiseandunworthypassionsoftheirsons，andthatmyonlyconsolationistobe，thatIlivenottoweepoverit。Iftheywouldbutdispassionatelyweightheblessingstheywillthrowaway，againstanabstractprinciplemorelikelytobeeffectedbyunionthanbyscission，theywouldpausebeforetheywouldperpetratethisactofsuicideonthemselves，andoftreasonagainstthehopesoftheworld。