{"id":1114,"date":"2013-06-29T13:13:03","date_gmt":"2013-06-29T13:13:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/housedivided.dickinson.edu\/sites\/lincoln\/?p=1114"},"modified":"2016-06-20T13:52:14","modified_gmt":"2016-06-20T13:52:14","slug":"speech-at-river-and-harbor-convention-july-6-1847","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/housedivided.dickinson.edu\/sites\/lincoln\/speech-at-river-and-harbor-convention-july-6-1847\/","title":{"rendered":"Speech at River and Harbor Convention (July 6, 1847)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ranking<\/strong><\/h3>\n

#135<\/span> on the list of 150 Most Teachable Lincoln Documents<\/em><\/p>\n

Annotated Transcript<\/h3>\n

“I had supposed that it was not proper for me, residing in Illinois, to occupy the time of the Convention in making a speech. \u00a0I will, however, avail myself of the few minutes allowed me until the return of the committee on resolutions, as no one else, perhaps, is desirous to do so.”\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

On This Date<\/h3>\n

HD Daily Report, July 6, 1847<\/a><\/p>\n

The Lincoln Log, July 6, 1847<\/a><\/p>\n

Custom Map<\/h3>\n

\"Screen<\/a>
\nView in Larger Map<\/a><\/p>\n

How Historians Intepret<\/h3>\n

“At the convention, a New York Democrat, David Dudley Field, gave an \u201cable and courteous\u201d speech favoring a strict construction of the Constitution and supporting only limited river and harbor improvements. Horace Greeley wrote that Lincoln responded \u201cbriefly and happily\u201d to Field.368 When he rose amid vigorous applause to speak, a Pennsylvanian asked who he was. \u201cOh,\u201d came the reply, \u201cthat is Abe Lincoln of Springfield, the ablest and wittiest stump speaker on the Whig side in the State of Illinois.\u201d His appearance was less impressive than his oratory. As one delegate recalled, the \u201cangular and awkward\u201d Lincoln wore \u201ca short-waited, thin swallow-tail coat, a short vest of same material, thins pantaloons, scarcely coming down to his ankles, a straw hat and a pair of brogans with woolen socks.\u201d Some Whigs, not sympathizing with Field\u2019s argument, had tried to silence him with shouts of derision. Ever the peacemaker, Lincoln urged the delegates to consider themselves \u201ca band of brothers\u201d and not interrupt each other: \u201cI hope there will be no more interruption \u2013 no hisses \u2013 no jibes.\u201d Responding to Field\u2019s remarks, Lincoln respectfully pointed out that the New Yorker had ignored a central issue: \u201cWho is to decide differences of opinion on constitutional questions? What tribunal? How shall we make it out? The gentleman from Pennsylvania (the Hon. Andrew Stewart) says Congress must decide. If Congress has not the power, who has? Is it not, at least, for Congress to remedy the objection [the Constitution did not authorize Congress to appropriate funds for internal improvements], and settle this great question. If there is any other tribunal, where is it to be found? My friend from Pennsylvania, Mr. Benton and myself, are much alike on that subject.\u201d Lincoln ignored the landmark Supreme Court ruling in Marbury vs. Madison that the Court itself was the ultimate arbiter of constitutional disputes. A decade later he would at much greater length question the Court\u2019s power to declare acts of Congress unconstitutional.\u201d<\/p>\n

—Michael Burlingame,\u00a0Abraham Lincoln: A Life<\/em>\u00a0(2 volumes, originally published by Johns Hopkins University Press, 2008) Unedited Manuscript By Chapter, Lincoln Studies Center, Volume 1, Chapter 7 (PDF), pp.\u00a0726-727.<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cOn the morning of July 6, 1847, David Dudley Field, prominent New York lawyer, spoke in defense of the position of the Polk administration. He rejected the obligation of the federal government to help develop the navigation of the Illinois River, which traversed a solitary state. Lincoln stood to offer a reply, speaking for the first time before a national audience. His full remarks were not recorded, but Field\u2019s remarks brought out the best of Lincoln\u2019s satire. Lincoln, who as usual had done his homework, learned that Field favored a federal appropriation for the Hudson River in New York. Lincoln asked \u201chow many States the lordly Hudson ran through.\u201d Lincoln\u2019s remarks made an incredible impression on a leading New York newspaper editor. Horace Greely, a reformer and politician at heart, and founding editor of the New York Tribune, <\/em>always had a nose for the up-and-coming. He thought he spied it in the tall congressman-elect. The next day, Greely wrote in appreciation, \u2018Hon. Abraham Lincoln, a tall specimen of and Illinoian, just elected to Congress from the only Whig District in the state, spoke briefly and happily in reply to Mr. Field.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

—Ronald C. White,\u00a0A Lincoln: A Biography\u00a0<\/a><\/em>(New York: Random House Publishing Group, 2009), 136.<\/p>\n

NOTE TO READERS<\/h3>\n

This page is under construction and will be developed further by students in the new \u201cUnderstanding Lincoln\u201d online course sponsored by the House Divided Project at Dickinson College and the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History. To find out more about the course and to see some of our videotaped class sessions, including virtual field trips to Ford’s Theatre and Gettysburg, please visit our Livestream page at http:\/\/new.livestream.com\/gilderlehrman\/lincoln<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Searchable Text<\/span><\/h3>\n
Mr. Lincoln, member of Congress from Illinois, being called upon, addressed the Convention, in substance, as follows:<\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
GENTLEMEN: \u00a0I had supposed that it was not proper for me, residing in Illinois, to occupy the time of the Convention in making a speech. \u00a0I will, however, avail myself of the few minutes allowed me until the return of the committee on resolutions, as no one else, perhaps, is desirous to do so.\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
I desire, for the sake of harmony, to make a few remarks \u2013not of division and discord, but of harmony. \u00a0We meet here to promote and advance the cause of internal improvement. \u00a0Parties have differed on that subject, but we meet here to break down that difference \u2013to unite, like a band of brothers, for the welfare of the common country. \u00a0In harmony and good feeling, let us transact the business for which we have assembled and let no firebrands be cast amongst us to produce discord and dissensions, but let us meet each other in the spirit of conciliation and good feeling. \u00a0The gentleman from New York made such a speech as he believed to be right. \u00a0He expressed the sentiments he believed to be correct, and however much others may differ from him in those views, he has a right to be heard, and should not be interrupted.<\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
If it was the object of this Convention to get up a grand hurrah, a few of its members are pursuing the proper course to effect that object. \u00a0But such was not the purpose of this Convention. \u00a0In the course of debate, it is impossible to speak without alluding, in some manner, to constitutional questions. \u00a0In all speeches, on every occasion, there are remarks to the point and collateral remarks. \u00a0Let us avoid collateral remarks in this Convention, as far as possible. \u00a0Democrats do not wish to do any thing in this Convention that will conflict with their past course, and if questions should come up which they do not approve, they should be permitted to protest against them. \u00a0I hope there will be no more interruption \u2013no hisses \u2013no jibes. \u00a0I pledge myself that the delegates from Illinois will keep quiet.<\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
The argument of the gentleman from New York upon the constitutionality of the power to make appropriations should be examined. \u00a0I do not feel that I can do it \u2013time will not permit\u2014but some one more able, more competent to do the subject justice, will reply. \u00a0All agree that something in the way of internal improvement must be done. \u00a0The difficulty is to discriminate, when to begin and where to stop. \u00a0There is great danger in going too far. \u00a0Members of Congress will be influenced by sectional interests and sectional feelings. \u00a0I have not taken the pains to write out my opinions upon the construction to be put upon the constitution. Any construction, that there is something to be done for the general good and no power to do it, would be wrong. \u00a0I do not go for sectional improvements through all are more or less sectional. \u00a0Is there any way to make improvements, except some persons are benefitted more than others? \u00a0No improvement can be made that will benefit all alike. \u00a0A pertinent question was asked the gentleman from New York, to which he did not reply: \u00a0Who is to decide differences of opinion on constitutional questions? \u00a0What tribunal? How shall we make it out? \u00a0The gentleman from Pennsylvania, the Hon. Andrew Stewart, says Congress must decide. \u00a0If Congress has not the power, who has? \u00a0Is it not, at least, for Congress to remedy the objection, and settle this great question? \u00a0If there is any other tribunal, where is it to be found? \u00a0My friend from Pennsylvania, Mr. Benton and myself, are much alike on that subject.<\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
I come now, to the subject of abstractions. \u00a0The gentleman from New York (Mr. David Dudley Field) made a slight mistake, when he said that the Revolutionary war was caused by abstractions. \u00a0They denied Parliament the right to tax them without representation. \u00a0This is not a parallel case, but totally different. \u00a0The abstractions of the present day are not the abstractions of the Revolution.<\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
I have the highest respect for the gentleman from New York. \u00a0In his speech, he made a beautiful appeal in behalf of the Constitution. \u00a0He implores us, by all considerations, to foster and protect it. \u00a0He loves the Constitution. \u00a0I hope I may love it as well as he does, but in a different way. \u00a0He looks upon it as a new work, which may be sifted the seeds of discord and dissension. \u00a0I look upon it as a complete protection to the Union. \u00a0He loves it in his way; I, in mine. There are many here who entertain the same views which I do, who will, I doubt not, sustain me, and with these remarks I beg leave to close.<\/span><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Ranking #135 on the list of 150 Most Teachable Lincoln Documents Annotated Transcript “I had supposed that it was not proper for me, residing in Illinois, to occupy the time of the Convention in making a speech. \u00a0I will, however, avail myself of the few minutes allowed me until the return of the committee on […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10855],"tags":[10866,10887,11669,11635,11658,10861,11643,26],"class_list":["post-1114","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-the-railsplitter","tag-antebellum","tag-founders","tag-needs-close-reading","tag-partisanship","tag-pragmatism","tag-public","tag-recent-discoveries","tag-speech"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/housedivided.dickinson.edu\/sites\/lincoln\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1114","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/housedivided.dickinson.edu\/sites\/lincoln\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/housedivided.dickinson.edu\/sites\/lincoln\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/housedivided.dickinson.edu\/sites\/lincoln\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/housedivided.dickinson.edu\/sites\/lincoln\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1114"}],"version-history":[{"count":18,"href":"https:\/\/housedivided.dickinson.edu\/sites\/lincoln\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1114\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4438,"href":"https:\/\/housedivided.dickinson.edu\/sites\/lincoln\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1114\/revisions\/4438"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/housedivided.dickinson.edu\/sites\/lincoln\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1114"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/housedivided.dickinson.edu\/sites\/lincoln\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1114"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/housedivided.dickinson.edu\/sites\/lincoln\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1114"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}