Vocabulary in House Divided Speech

The verb “to preconcert” refers to the act of arranging or planning something in advance. Lincoln concedes that there is no way to prove that the Democratic establishment conspired to expand slavery. However, he does believe that there is a lot of evidence indicating that “Stephen, Franklin, Roger, and James” collaborated in order to secure the legal precedents needed to expand the institution.

The noun “felicitation” refers to well-wishes or praise given to someone for an achievement. Lincoln notes Pierce’s praise of Buchanan’s endorsement of the Dred Scott decision as a suspiciously timed coincidence. Both men were willing to preemptively endorse a decision that they allegedly did not know the outcome of. Lincoln cites this as evidence for his theory that Taney collaborated with Pierce and Buchanan on the ruling so that they could garner public support before it was announced.

Lincoln uses anaphora—or the repetition of a word or phrase in successive clauses—to showcase the conclusions he hopes to have led his audience to. His rigorous examination of the recent legislative and judicial record has established the logic behind his claims. Now, through his repetition of the phrase “plainly enough now,” Lincoln presents some of the connections he has developed between the Kansas-Nebraska Act and the Dred Scott decision. The adverb “plainly” refers to something that is obvious or easy to identify. By introducing his ideas with “plainly,” Lincoln indicates that his conclusions should be clear and apparent in light of the evidence he has presented.

A foundry mold is a tool used in metal casting to create shapes that are too difficult to sculpt by hand. The mold, typically made of tightly packed sand, is carved in a specific shape and molten metal is then poured into the mold. When the metal solidifies, the cheap mold is disintegrated in order to free the finished metal part. Using a simile, Lincoln compares the original Nebraska doctrine and the principle of popular sovereignty to a foundry mold. The implication is that the Kansas-Nebraska Act was only a temporary measure designed to create a “mold,” or niche, for the Dred Scott decision. Once the Dred Scott decision declared Congressional restrictions on slavery unconstitutional, the mold was no longer needed and Douglas’s Nebraska doctrine “fell back into loose sand.”

Lincoln uses the first-person plural pronoun “we” throughout his speech as he addresses the delegates of the Illinois Republican State Convention. By using “we,” Lincoln appeals to a sense of shared identity and political alignment. Lincoln establishes the Republican party as the defenders of the anti-slavery cause. As he discusses the recent gains made by pro-slavery advocates, he uses inclusive pronouns to share in his audience’s fears surrounding slavery’s expansion.