But that's not right, is it? If you claim that Lincoln said something, you have to back it up by showing where he said it, to whom, in what context (and I know context is a big problem for you Lost Causers when quoting Lincoln). Otherwise, it's no more valid than John Edwards claiming to channel Lincoln.
Now here's a REAL Lincoln quote, with citation:
In your hands, my dissatisfied fellow-countrymen, and not in mine, is the momentous issue of civil war. The Government will not assail you. You can have no conflict without being yourselves the aggressors. You have no oath registered in heaven to destroy the Government, while I shall have the most solemn one to "preserve, protect, and defend it."I am loath to close. We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory, stretching from every battlefield and patriot grave to every living heart and hearthstone all over this broad land, will yet swell the chorus of the Union, when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature.
If you had a credible record of it, sure.
But, you missed my point. You posted to Ruth that you 'knew' that Lincoln 'never' said the 'bringing the South to her knees' line.
So, whereas Ruth may not be able to prove the quote, you can only accurately state that there is not a record of Lincoln saying this but the only proof you could possibly muster that he 'never' said those words is if you were with Abe 24/7 and heard every word that he uttered during this period.
Get it?