As a nation, we began by ...

As a nation, we began by declaring that \'all men are created equal.\' We now practically read it \'all men are created equal, except negroes.\' When the Know-Nothings get control, it will read \'all men are created equal, except negroes, and foreigners, and Catholics.\' When it comes to this I should prefer emigrating to some country where they make no pretense of loving liberty – to Russia, for instance, where despotism can be taken pure, and without the base alloy of hypocrisy.
As a nation, we began by declaring that 'all men are created equal.' We now practically read it 'all men are created equal, except negroes.' When the Know-Nothings get control, it will read 'all men are created equal, except negroes, and foreigners, and Catholics.' When it comes to this I should prefer emigrating to some country where they make no pretense of loving liberty – to Russia, for instance, where despotism can be taken pure, and without the base alloy of hypocrisy.

Quotes from the same author

Most folks are as happy as they make up their minds to be.
I am not bound to win, but I am bound to be true. I am not bound to succeed, but I am bound to live by the light that I have. I must stand with anybody that stands right, and stand with him while he is right, and part with him when he goes wrong.
We the people are the rightful masters of both Congress and the courts, not to overthrow the Constitution but to overthrow the men who pervert the Constitution.
Government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the Earth.
All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother.