...Lincoln could hardly have said more at this point to identify the causes of union and of antislavery. This is essentially a people's contest. On the side...from all shoulders; to clear the paths of laudable pursuit for all; to afford all an unfettered start, and a fair chance in the race of life. Yielding...

...Union men are the majority in many, if not in every other one, of the so-called seceded States. . . . This is essentially a people's contest. On the side...from all shoulders; to clear the paths of laudable pursuit for all; to afford all an unfettered start, and a fair chance in the race of life. Yielding...

...and inseparable!"39 In his message to the special session of Congress on 4 July 1861, Lincoln said, "This is essentially a people's contest. On the side...world that form and substance of government whose object is to elevate the condition of men ... to afford all an unfettered start, and a fair chance...

...constitutional issue of secession, Lincoln returned to the larger theme again in the same message: This is essentially a People's contest. On the side...maintaining in the world, that form, and substance of govemment, whose leading object is, to elevate the condition of men — to lift artificial weights...

...Lincoln in a message to Congress in Special Session stated: This is essentially a people's contest ... It is a struggle for maintaining in the world that...government whose leading object is to elevate the constitution of men to lift artificial weights from all shoulders to clear the paths of laudable pursuit...

...the world that form and substance of government whose leading object is to elevate the constitution of men to lift artificial weights from all shoulders to clear the paths of laudable pursuit for all to afford all an unfettered start, and a fair chance, in the race for life. Mr. Chairman,...

...described the war as part of the larger struggle for democracy and opportunity throughout the world: "This is essentially a People's contest. On the side...from all shoulders — to clear the paths of laudable pursuit for all — to afford all, an unfettered start, and a fair chance, in the race of life."29...

...Congress in special session on July 5, one day after the nation's unhappiest birthday, its eightyfifth. "It is a struggle for maintaining in the world, that...from all shoulders — to clear the paths of laudable pursuit for all — to afford all, an unfettered start, and a fair chance, in the race of life." Lincoln...

...of this judgment, Lincoln insisted that the war was being fought for the American dream, that it was "a struggle for maintaining in the world, that form,...artificial weights from all shoulders — to clear die path of laudable pursuit for all." Like Lincoln, Martin Luther King revitalized faith in the Declaration...

...July 4, 1861, President Lincoln in a speech to Congress said that the war was "a People's contest ... a struggle for maintaining in the world, that form...leading object is to elevate the condition of men . . .." and this War Between the States was, among other things, a war about the condition of the slaves....