The Declaration of Independence

Jefferson may have written the Declaration, but it was Lincoln who revived it and it placed it above even the Constitution as the true soul of our country. The following are the words of Lincoln on the Declaration during the 1850's:

"Our progress in degeneracy appears to me to be pretty rapid. 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 pretence of loving liberty - to Russia, for instance."

In 2006, you could change Know Nothings to Republicans and the phrase would be:

"All men are created equal, except foreigners, homosexuals, and non-Christians."

At least the Know Nothings were aptly named...