Joliet in Will County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
"A House Divided Against Itself Cannot Stand"
Abraham Lincoln
— Joliet, Illinois, October 8, 1856 —
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, August 26, 2016
1. "A House Divided Against Itself Cannot Stand" Marker
“I believe the government cannot endure, permanently, half slave and half free. I do not expect the union to be dissolved — I do not expect the house to fall, but I do expect it will cease to be divided… Our cause then, must be entrusted to… Those whose hands are free, whose hearts are in the work, who do not care for the result… If we stand firm, we shall not fail. Wise counsels may accelerate, or mistakes delay it, but sooner or later, the victory is sure to come.”
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Government & Politics. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #16 Abraham Lincoln series list. A significant historical date for this entry is October 8, 1856.
Location. 41° 31.794′ N, 88° 5.504′ W. Marker is in Joliet, Illinois, in Will County. Marker is at the intersection of North Center Street (Lincoln Highway) (U.S. 30) and Charlotte Avenue, on the right when traveling south on North Center Street (Lincoln Highway). Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Joliet IL 60435, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Joliet Stagecoach Road (approx. 0.3 miles away); Old Sauk Indian Trail (approx. 0.3 miles away); Joliet's Oldest Remaining Construction (approx. 0.3 miles away); Joliet's First Volunteer Fire Department
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1. Lincoln's Time in Joliet Memorable. Will County IL GenWeb entry:
On a warm fall day in 1856, a tall, gaunt man came to Joliet to make a speech at a political rally and beauty pageant. The downstate lawyer was pretty much still unknown at the time. Some local historians believe that the speech he made in Joliet may have included the classic line, “A house divided against itself cannot stand.” Although Lincoln‘s exact words that day in Joliet have been lost, some of what he said apparently made a big impression on the crowd. (Submitted on April 8, 2021, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
2. Lincoln's House Divided Speech. Wikipedia entry:
The House Divided Speech was an address given by Abraham Lincoln, later President of the United States, on June 16, 1858, at what was then the Illinois State Capitol in Springfield, after he had accepted the Illinois Republican Party's nomination as that state's US senator. (Submitted on April 8, 2021, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, August 26, 2016
2. "A House Divided Against Itself Cannot Stand" Marker
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, August 26, 2016
3. "A House Divided Against Itself Cannot Stand" Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on July 31, 2022. It was originally submitted on April 7, 2021, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 285 times since then and 34 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 8, 2021, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
