At the age of 28, while serving in the Illinois General Assembly, Lincoln made one of his
first
public declarations against slavery.
March 3, 1837
The following protest was presented to the House, which was read and ordered to be
spread on the journals, to wit:
"Resolutions upon the subject of domestic slavery having passed both branches of the
General Assembly at its present session, the undersigned hereby protest against the passage of
the
same.
They believe that the institution of slavery is founded on both injustice and bad policy;
but that the promulgation of abolition doctrines tends rather to increase than to abate its
evils.
They believe that the Congress of the United States has no power, under the constitution,
to interfere with the institution of slavery in the different States.
They believe that the Congress of the United States has the power, under the constitution,
to abolish slavery in the District of Columbia; but that that power ought not to be exercised
unless at the request of the people of said District.
The difference between these opinions and those contained in the said resolutions, is their
reason for entering this protest."
Dan Stone,
A. Lincoln,
Representatives from the county of Sangamon
(I, 75)
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