[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 24 (Monday, February 7, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H980-H981]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   HONORING PRESIDENT ABRAHAM LINCOLN

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Indiana (Mr. Bucshon) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. BUCSHON. Mr. Speaker, I grew up about 20 miles from Springfield, 
Illinois, and President Lincoln's boyhood home is in my congressional 
district in Spencer County, Indiana. President Lincoln's birthday is 
this Saturday, February 12, so I want to highlight some of his speeches 
and recognize the enduring importance of his words.
  First is his farewell speech to Springfield delivered February 11, 
1861: ``My friends, no one, not in my situation, can appreciate my 
feeling of sadness at this parting. To this place, and the kindness of 
these people, I owe everything.
  ``Here I have lived a quarter of a century and have passed from a 
young to an old man. Here my children have been born and one is buried.
  ``I now leave, not knowing when, or whether ever, I may return, with 
a task before me greater than that which rested upon Washington.
  ``Without the assistance of the Divine Being, who ever attended him, 
I cannot succeed.
  ``With that assistance, I cannot fail. Trusting in Him who can go 
with me, and remain with you, and be everywhere for good, let us 
confidently hope that all will yet be well.

  ``To His care commending you, as I hope in your prayers you will 
commend me, I bid you an affectionate farewell.''
  Notice the importance of faith to President Lincoln in his farewell 
speech to Springfield. I do believe the loss of faith amongst elected 
officials has been detrimental to our country. It seems that we go out 
of our way to eliminate any mention of faith in public life. This is a 
mistake.
  Next, Mr. Speaker, President Lincoln's address at Independence Hall 
February 22, 1861, on George Washington's birthday: ``I am filled with 
deep emotion at finding myself standing here, in this place, where were 
collected together the wisdom, the patriotism, the devotion to 
principle from which sprang the institutions under which we live.
  ``You have kindly suggested to me that in my hands is the task of 
restoring peace to the present distracted condition of the country. I 
can say in return, Sir, that all the political sentiments I entertain 
have been drawn, so far as I have been able to draw them, from the 
sentiments which originated and were given to the world from this hall.
  ``I have never had a feeling politically that did not spring from the 
sentiments embodied in the Declaration of Independence. I have often 
pondered over the dangers which were incurred by the men who assembled 
here and framed and adopted that Declaration of Independence.
  ``I have pondered over the toils that were endured by the officers 
and soldiers of the army who achieved that Independence.
  ``I have often inquired of myself, what great principle or idea it 
was that kept this Confederacy so long together.
  ``It was not the mere matter of the separation of the Colonies from 
the motherland; but that sentiment in the Declaration of Independence 
which gave liberty, not alone to the people of this country, but, I 
hope, to the world for all future time.
  ``It was that which gave promise that in due time the weight would be 
lifted from the shoulders of all men. This is a sentiment embodied in 
that Declaration of Independence.
  ``Now, my friends, can this country be saved upon that basis? If it 
can, I will consider myself one of the happiest men in the world, if I 
can help to save it. If it cannot be saved upon that principle, it will 
be truly awful.
  ``But, if this country cannot be saved without giving up that 
principle, I was about to say I would rather be assassinated on this 
spot than to surrender it.

[[Page H981]]

  ``Now, in my view of the present aspect of affairs, there need be no 
bloodshed and war. There is no necessity for it. I am not in favor of 
such a course, and I may say, in advance, that there will be no 
bloodshed unless it be forced upon the Government, and then it will be 
compelled to act in self-defense.
  ``My friends, this is wholly an unexpected speech, and I did not 
expect to be called upon to say a word when I came here. I supposed it 
was merely to do something toward raising the flag. I may, therefore, 
have said something indiscreet. I have said nothing but what I am 
willing to live by, and, if it be the pleasure of Almighty God, die 
by.''
  It is impossible to compare any situation we, as a Nation, are in 
today with a battle between families, brothers, sisters, and Americans 
that was the American Civil War. I am not attempting today in any way 
to do so. With that being said, the words of President Lincoln in his 
second inaugural address, which I am about ready to read, is an 
inspiration, I think, and should be to all of us.
  ``With malice toward none with charity for all with firmness in the 
right as God gives us to see the right let us strive on to finish the 
work we are in to bind up the Nation's wounds, to care for him who 
shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan, to do all 
which may achieve and cherish just and lasting peace amongst ourselves 
and all nations.''

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