Our Declaration of Independence was held sacred by all and thought to include all; but now, to aid in making the bondage of the Negro universal and eternal, it is assailed, sneered at, construed, hawked at, and torn, till, if its framers could rise from their graves, they could not at all recognize it.

In this quote, Abraham Lincoln is lamenting how the Declaration of Independence, once seen as a sacred document representing freedom and equality, has been distorted and misused to justify the continued bondage of Black people in America. He highlights the paradox that the ideals of the Declaration, which were supposed to apply to all citizens, have been manipulated to support the institution of slavery rather than the freedom it was intended to promote. Lincoln suggests that the principles of the Declaration have been assailed, sneered at, and misinterpreted in such a way that they no longer align with their original intent.

Lincoln’s words reflect his deep frustration with the political and social realities of his time, where slavery continued to be entrenched despite the nation's founding principles of liberty. The phrase "to aid in making the bondage of the Negro universal and eternal" underscores his belief that the distortion of the Declaration was directly linked to the continued oppression of African Americans. Lincoln suggests that the framers of the Declaration of Independence would not recognize the way their work had been twisted to support systems of oppression.

The origin of this quote comes from Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States, during the period leading up to and during the American Civil War. As a fierce advocate for the abolition of slavery, Lincoln was deeply concerned with the ways in which the nation’s founding documents were being used to justify practices that contradicted their core ideals. His reflections on the Declaration of Independence were part of his broader efforts to challenge the moral and legal justifications for slavery and to promote emancipation.

Ultimately, Lincoln’s quote serves as a critique of the ways in which political ideals can be corrupted to perpetuate injustice. He calls for a return to the true spirit of the Declaration of Independence, one that acknowledges the inherent rights and freedom of all people, regardless of race. His words underscore the contradictions within the nation’s founding documents and the need for them to be upheld in their truest form, free from manipulation and abuse.