By Julie Lays

President Abraham Lincoln visited the Legislative Summit today, a delightful bonus of holding this meeting in his home state.

He shared the stage with two fine current state legislative leaders—Senate President Pro Tem Brent Hill from Idaho and Senate Majority Floor Leader Michael Sanchez from New Mexico.

They discussed issues around leadership, and all three had great things to say. But when the 16th president spoke, in Lincoln’s actual words, with a voice and look amazingly similar to the real thing, the audience was captivated.

”I can only now say, as I have often before said, it has always been a sentiment with me that all mankind should be free.” 

“Nowhere in the world is presented a government of so much liberty and equality. To the humblest and poorest amongst us are held out the highest privileges and positions.”

“I never had a policy; I have just tried to do my very best each and every day.”

“The world has never had a good definition of liberty, and the American people, just now, are much in need of one. We all declare for liberty; but in using the same word we do not all mean the same thing. With some the word liberty may mean for each man to do as he pleases with himself, and the product of his labor; while with others the same word may mean for some men to do as they please with other men, and the product of other men’s labor. Here are two, not only different, but incompatible things, called by the same name—liberty. And it follows that each of the things is, by the respective parties, called by two different and incompatible names—liberty and tyranny.”

And just like some politicians today, Lincoln’s responses at times seemed unrelated to the questions asked. In other words, he stayed “on message” despite the question asked.

The state legislators added their wisdom, as well, to the discussion, which was often quite insightful and moving. They spoke of civility, respect, trying to understand where their opponents are coming from, listening to their members and refusing to respond to negative attacks in a like manner.

In fact, the leaders’ advice was summarized nicely by Lincoln years ago. When a woman criticized him for calling Southerners “fellow human beings who were in error,” rather than “irreconcilable enemies who must be destroyed” he responded with this question: “Do I not destroy my enemies when I make them my friends?”

Julie Lays is editor of State Legislatures magazine.

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