I have said a hundred times, and I have no inclination to take it back, that I believe there is no right, and ought to be no inclination in the people of the free States to enter into the slave States, and to interfere with the question of slavery at all. I have said that always.

Abraham Lincoln asserts his position against interference by free states in the affairs of slave states regarding slavery. He emphasizes the need for respecting states’ rights and avoiding external intervention in their domestic policies, particularly on the divisive issue of slavery. Lincoln’s quote reflects his commitment to maintaining peace and stability between states, advocating for non-interference as a principle of governance. It underscores his belief in preserving the constitutional balance between federal authority and states’ autonomy on sensitive matters such as slavery.