Christie's to Auction Lincoln's Victory Speech

Feb. 6, 2009 — -- In 1864, Abraham Lincoln was surprisingly re-elected as president of a nation divided by a savage civil war.

Thought to be one of his most important wartime speeches, his 1864 victory speech is terse -- just four pages -- but steady in the thoughtful optimism that the re-election inspired in him, that the nation could survive.

Since that time, America proved it could survive that and many other challenges. Lincoln's bold ideas never faded, nor did the four pages of that speech.

On Feb. 12, the bicentennial of Lincoln's birth, New York's famed auction house, Christie's, is auctioning off the original copy of Lincoln's speech that's estimated to fetch $3 million to $4 million.

Read Lincoln's speech below and then visit Christies.com for more information.

Lincoln's Victory Speech, Delivered Nov. 10, 1864 at the White House

Courtesy Christie's Images LTD. 2009.

It has long been a grave question whether any government, not too strong for the liberties of its people, can be strong enough to maintain its own existence, in great emergencies.

On this point the present rebellion brought our republic to a severe test; and a presidential election occurring in regular course during the rebellion added not a little to the strain. If the loyal people, united, were put to the utmost of their strength by the rebellion, must they not fail when divided, and partially paralyzed, by a political war among themselves?But the election was a necessity.

We can not have free government without elections; and if the rebellion could force us to forego, or postpone a national election, it might fairly claim to have already conquered and ruined us. The strife of the election is but human-nature practically applied to the facts of the case. What has occurred in this case, must ever recur in similar cases. Human-nature will not change. In any future great national trial, compared with the men of this, we shall have as weak, and as strong; as silly and as wise; as bad and good. Let us, therefore, study the incidents of this, as philosophy to learn wisdom from, and none of them as wrongs to be revenged.

But the election, along with its incidental, and undesirable strife, has done good too. It has demonstrated that a people's government can sustain a national election, in the midst of a great civil war. Until now it has not been known to the world that this was a possibility. It shows also how sound, and how strong we still are. It shows that, even among candidates of the same party, he who is most devoted to the Union, and most opposed to treason, can receive most of the people's votes. It shows also, to the extent yet known, that we have more men now, than we had when the war began. Gold is good in its place; but living, brave, patriotic men, are better than gold.

Courtesy Christie's Images LTD. 2009.

But the rebellion continues; and now that the election is over, may not all, having a common interest, re-unite in a common effort, to save our common country? For my own part I have striven, and shall strive to avoid placing any obstacle in the way. So long as I have been here I have not willingly planted a thorn in any man's bosom.

While I am deeply sensible to the high compliment of a re-election; and duly grateful, as I trust, to Almighty God for having directed my countrymen to a right conclusion, as I think, for their own good, it adds nothing to my satisfaction that any other man may be disappointed or pained by the result.

May I ask those who have not differed with me, to join with me, in this same spirit towards those who have?And now, let me close by asking three hearty cheers for our brave soldiers and seamen and their gallant and skilful commanders.

-- Abraham Lincoln