Chapter 97: Lincoln’s House Divided speech and nomination

Buoyed by his VP votes at the 1856 convention, Lincoln seeks the Republican nomination to unseat Douglas in his re-election bid for the Senate in Illinois. He gets the nod after delivering his “House Divided” forecast on June 16, 1858.

Mr. President and Gentlemen of the Convention — If we could first know where
we are, and whither we are tending, we could then better judge what to do, and
how to do it.

We are now far into the fifth year, since a policy was initiated, with the avowed
object, and confident promise, of putting an end to slavery agitation. Under the
operation of that policy, that agitation has not only, not ceased, but has constantly
augmented. In my opinion, it will not cease, until a crisis shall have been reached,
and passed. “A house divided against itself cannot stand.”

I believe this government cannot endure, permanently half slave and half free.
I do not expect the Union to be dissolved — I do not expect the house to fall — but
I do expect it will cease to be divided. It will become all one thing or all the other.