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On February 27, 1860, New York party leaders invited Lincoln to give a speech at Cooper Union to a group of powerful Republicans.
Lincoln argued that the Founding Fathers had little use for popular sovereignty and had repeatedly sought to restrict slavery.
Lincoln insisted the moral foundation of the Republicans required opposition to slavery, and rejected any " groping for some middle ground between the right and the wrong ".
Despite his inelegant appearance — many in the audience thought him awkward and even ugly — Lincoln demonstrated an intellectual leadership that brought him into the front ranks of the party and into contention for the Republican presidential nomination.
Journalist Noah Brooks reported, " No man ever before made such an impression on his first appeal to a New York audience.
" Historian Donald described the speech as a " superb political move for an unannounced candidate, to appear in one rival's ( William H. Seward ) own state at an event sponsored by the second rival's ( Salmon P. Chase ) loyalists, while not mentioning either by name during its delivery.
" In response to an inquiry about his presidential intentions, Lincoln said, " The taste is in my mouth a little.

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