就职演讲

That there are persons in one section or another who seek to destroy the Union at all events and are glad of any pretext to do it I will neither affirm nor deny;
至于说某些地方总有些人不顾一切一心想破坏联邦，并不惜以任何借口图谋不轨，我不打算肯定或否定；
but if there be such, I need address no word to them.
如果确有这样一些人，我不必要再对他们讲什么。
To those, however, who really love the Union may I not speak?
但对那些真正热爱联邦的人,我不可以讲几句吗?
Before entering upon so grave a matter as the destruction of our national fabric, with all its benefits,
在我们着手研究如此严重的一件事情之前，那就是要把我们的国家组织连同它的一切利益，
its memories, and its hopes, would it not be wise to ascertain precisely why we do it?
一切记忆和一切希望全给消灭掉，难道明智的做法不是先仔细研究一下那样做究竟是为了什么?
Will you hazard so desperate a step while there is any possibility that any portion of the ills you fly from have no real existence?
当事实上极有可能你企图逃避的祸害并不存在的时候，你还会不顾一切采取那种贻害无穷的步骤吗?或者你要逃避的灾祸虽确实存在，
Will you, while the certain ills you fly to are greater than all the real ones you fly from, will you risk the commission of so fearful a mistake?
而在你逃往的地方却有更大的灾祸在等着你；那你会往那里逃吗?你会冒险犯下如此可怕的一个错误吗?
All profess to be content in the Union if all constitutional rights can be maintained.
大家都说，如果宪法中所规定的一切权利都确实得到执行，那他也就会留在联邦里。
Is it true, then, that any right plainly written in the Constitution has been denied?
那么，真有什么如宪法申明文规定的权利被否定了吗?我想没有。
I think not. Happily, the human mind is so constituted that no party can reach to the audacity of doing this.
很幸运，人的头脑是这样构造出来的，没有一个党敢于如此冒天下之大不韪。
Think, if you can, of a single instance in which a plainly written provision of the Constitution has ever been denied.
如果可能，请你们讲出哪怕是一个例子来，说明有什么宪法中明文规定的条款是没有得到执行的。
If by the mere force of numbers a majority should deprive a minority of any clearly written constitutional right,
如果多数派完全靠人数上的优势，剥夺掉少数派宪法上明文规定的权利，
it might in a moral point of view justify revolution; certainly would if such right were a vital one.
这件事从道义的角度来看，也许可以说革命是正当的,如果被剥夺的是极为重要的权利，那革命就肯定无疑是合理行动。
But such is not our case. All the vital rights of minorities and of individuals are so plainly assured to them by affirmations and negations,
但我们的情况却并非如此。数派和个人的一切重要权利，在宪法中，通过肯定和否定、
guaranties and prohibitions,in the Constitution that controversies never arise concerning them.
保证和禁令；都一一向他们作了明确保证,以致关于这类问题，从来也没有引起过争论。
But no organic law can ever be framed with a provision specifically applicable to every question which may occur in practical administration.
但是，在制订基本法时却不可能对实际工作中出现的任何问题，都一一写下可以立即加以应用的条文。
No foresight can anticipate nor any document of reasonable length contain express provisions for all possible questions.
再高明的预见也不可能料定未来的一切，任何长度适当的文件也不可能包容下针对一切可能发生的问题的条文。
Shall fugitives from labor be surrendered by national or by State authority?
逃避劳役的人到底应该由联邦政府交还还是由州政府交还呢?
The Constitution does not expressly say.
宪法上没有具体规定。
May Congress prohibit slavery in the Territories? The Constitution does not expressly say.
国会可以在准州禁止奴隶制吗?宪法没有具体规定。
Must Congress protect slavery in the Territories? The Constitution does not expressly say.
国会必须保护准州的奴隶制吗?宪法也没有具体规定。
From questions of this class spring all our constitutional controversies, and we divide upon them into majorities and minorities.
从这类问题中引出了我们对宪法问题的争端，并因这类问题使我们分成了多数派和少数派。
If the minority will not acquiesce, the majority must, or the Government must cease.
如果少数派不肯默认，多数派便必须默认，否则政府便只好停止工作了。
There is no other alternative, for continuing the Government is acquiescence on one side or the other.
再没有任何别的路可走；要让政府继续行使职权，便必须要这一方或那一方默认。
If a minority in such case will secede rather than acquiesce, they make a precedent which in turn will divide and ruin them,
在这种情况下，如果一个少数派宁可脱离也决不默认，那他们也就开创将来必会使他们分裂和毁灭的先例；
for a minority of their own will secede from them whenever a majority refuses to be controlled by such minority.
因为，当多数派拒绝接受这样一个少数派的控制的时候，他们中的少数派便必会从他们之中再脱离出去。
总统介绍

亚伯拉罕·林肯（Abraham Lincoln，1809年2月12日－1865年4月15日），美国政治家、思想家，黑人奴隶制的废除者。第16任美国总统，其任总统期间，美国爆发内战，史称南北战争，林肯坚决反对国家分裂。