"While I was at the hotel to-day, an elderly gentleman called upon me to
know whether I was really in favor of producing a perfect equality
between the negroes and white people. While I had not proposed to myself
on this occasion to say much on that subject, yet as the question was
asked me I thought I would occupy perhaps five minutes in saying
something in regard to it. I will say then that I am not, nor ever have
been, in favor of bringing about in any way the social and political
equality of the black and white races -- that I am not nor ever have
been in favor of making VOTERS or jurors of negroes, NOR OF QUALIFYING
THEM HOLD OFFICE, nor to intermarry with white people; and I will say in
addition to this that there is a physical difference between the white
and black races which I believe will forever forbid the two races living
together on terms of social and political equality. And inasmuch as
they cannot so live, while they do remain together there must be the
position of superior and inferior, and I as much as any of her man am in
favor of having the superior position assigned to the white race."
Abraham Lincoln, Sept. 18, 1858
Abraham Lincoln, Sept. 18, 1858