November of 1863, the uttermost grandeur of the year, brings one and all the fruition of months of toils, care, and thoughts. Here I am sitting here at this dilapidated state, mahogany writing desk on a dark night, preparing to give a speech that may or may not have any impact. Regardless this is important, we are dedicating a place of burial for many soldiers who died in one of the bloodiest battles during this Civil War. I paced the floor covered in oilcloth as I thought about how to deliver my speech, I happened to notice the incomplete Washington Monument, the Potomac River, and encampments of Union soldiers from afar. My eyes glanced around the room from the large walnut table in the center of the room where piles of maps and books rested to the two horsehair sofas to Andrew Jackson’s engraved portrait over the fireplace. I dwell on the meaning of freedom and how to express the significance to the American people. FREEDOM! This utterance evokes hope and stirs the inner soul of man. It drives him to shed blood and tears. The eagle's wings flutter freely like the American flag in the wind, unfettered. Few nations have ever obtained freedom, let alone enabled it to continue.
I lifted my quilted pen that captures “genetic essence” and embodies true artistry and placed the nib gently on the page:
[In 1776 our founders (crossed out)] “Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal… (Lincoln (1863), The Gettysburg’s Address)”
I thought about the Founding Fathers and also agree that the U. S. Constitution was written to protect the rights of Americans. The Bill of Rights set forth precious freedoms and rights. During the American Revolution, people did not have to luxury to have many freedoms, such as the right to express their opinion or ideas and have the right to listen to others’ judgment. Now I know well that the people can express their opinions in public about the actions of the government and they are free to criticize the elected officials. Americans have the freedom to convey their views in writing in newspapers, magazines, or pamphlets, no matter how harshly they view their leaders. The right to assemble allows the people to congregate to debate policy and plan actions. The Second Amendment guarantees the right to bear arms to provide protection, lest they be defenseless should the government descend into tyranny.
However, thinking about these freedoms makes me return to this awful war, and the cost of these freedoms.
[Now a great civil war undermines the limits of these freedoms (crossed out)] “Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this… (Lincoln (1863), The Gettysburg’s Address)”
Preserving the union is imperative, but I regret the number of brave men lost in this battle. They sacrificed themselves for the cause of freedom.
“But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow -- this ground. [The soldiers who fought and died here have (crossed out)] The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. [Our words today will not long endure, but their deeds (crossed out)] The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here… (Lincoln (1863), The Gettysburg’s Address)”
I need to leave soon for the train.
“It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- [from these brave and distinguished men we become more dedicated (crossed out)]that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- [that this nation shall be reborn and be made stronger (crossed out)] that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth. (Lincoln (1863), The Gettysburg’s Address)”
I feel responsible for continuing to support liberty because of their sacrifice. I want to renew freedom and hope to solve future problems without resorting to bloodshed. We must ensure, however, that the Founding Father's ideas of freedom last and are renewed, rather than allowing them to perish.
While I have now arrived in Gettysburg, I remain worried about the sudden illness of my son, Tad. I was determined give my address at the dedication, however, because it was an opportunity to enhance the Union's support for the war and to solidify political support in Pennsylvania. I arrived in Gettysburg last night before the ceremony and stayed at David Will’s home. There were over fifteen thousand people surrounding my platform as I delivered my speech:
“Fourscore and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation or any nation so conceived and so dedicated can long endure. We are met on a great battlefield of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field as a final resting-place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this. But in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate, we cannot hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead who struggled here have consecrated it far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living rather to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us--that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion--that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain, that this nation under God shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth. (Lincoln (1863), The Gettysburg’s Address)”
My speech lasted less than two minutes, so the audience’s reaction was muted. After I saw their reaction, I told my companion, "It is a flat failure and the people are disappointed." The initial purpose of the Civil War was to fight for freedom and equality. In order to preserve freedom, we must promise to be genuine to our country and be loyal to the standards on which it was founded. Our Founding Fathers mutually pledged their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor to the cause of liberty. “All men are created equal,” so race and religious belief should not be factors limiting men’s opportunities. Our Founding Fathers bestowed the rights enumerated in our Declaration and our Constitution. These natural rights include life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, regardless of race or creed.
I lifted my quilted pen that captures “genetic essence” and embodies true artistry and placed the nib gently on the page:
[In 1776 our founders (crossed out)] “Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal… (Lincoln (1863), The Gettysburg’s Address)”
I thought about the Founding Fathers and also agree that the U. S. Constitution was written to protect the rights of Americans. The Bill of Rights set forth precious freedoms and rights. During the American Revolution, people did not have to luxury to have many freedoms, such as the right to express their opinion or ideas and have the right to listen to others’ judgment. Now I know well that the people can express their opinions in public about the actions of the government and they are free to criticize the elected officials. Americans have the freedom to convey their views in writing in newspapers, magazines, or pamphlets, no matter how harshly they view their leaders. The right to assemble allows the people to congregate to debate policy and plan actions. The Second Amendment guarantees the right to bear arms to provide protection, lest they be defenseless should the government descend into tyranny.
However, thinking about these freedoms makes me return to this awful war, and the cost of these freedoms.
[Now a great civil war undermines the limits of these freedoms (crossed out)] “Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this… (Lincoln (1863), The Gettysburg’s Address)”
Preserving the union is imperative, but I regret the number of brave men lost in this battle. They sacrificed themselves for the cause of freedom.
“But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow -- this ground. [The soldiers who fought and died here have (crossed out)] The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. [Our words today will not long endure, but their deeds (crossed out)] The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here… (Lincoln (1863), The Gettysburg’s Address)”
I need to leave soon for the train.
“It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- [from these brave and distinguished men we become more dedicated (crossed out)]that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- [that this nation shall be reborn and be made stronger (crossed out)] that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth. (Lincoln (1863), The Gettysburg’s Address)”
I feel responsible for continuing to support liberty because of their sacrifice. I want to renew freedom and hope to solve future problems without resorting to bloodshed. We must ensure, however, that the Founding Father's ideas of freedom last and are renewed, rather than allowing them to perish.
While I have now arrived in Gettysburg, I remain worried about the sudden illness of my son, Tad. I was determined give my address at the dedication, however, because it was an opportunity to enhance the Union's support for the war and to solidify political support in Pennsylvania. I arrived in Gettysburg last night before the ceremony and stayed at David Will’s home. There were over fifteen thousand people surrounding my platform as I delivered my speech:
“Fourscore and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation or any nation so conceived and so dedicated can long endure. We are met on a great battlefield of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field as a final resting-place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this. But in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate, we cannot hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead who struggled here have consecrated it far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living rather to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us--that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion--that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain, that this nation under God shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth. (Lincoln (1863), The Gettysburg’s Address)”
My speech lasted less than two minutes, so the audience’s reaction was muted. After I saw their reaction, I told my companion, "It is a flat failure and the people are disappointed." The initial purpose of the Civil War was to fight for freedom and equality. In order to preserve freedom, we must promise to be genuine to our country and be loyal to the standards on which it was founded. Our Founding Fathers mutually pledged their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor to the cause of liberty. “All men are created equal,” so race and religious belief should not be factors limiting men’s opportunities. Our Founding Fathers bestowed the rights enumerated in our Declaration and our Constitution. These natural rights include life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, regardless of race or creed.
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