How had the country existed half-slave and half-free for so many years, Lincoln asked.

VOA: special.2009.06.11

The committee had six members from slave states and six from free states.

VOA: special.2009.04.02

He noted that the country had been half-slave and half-free for seventy years.

VOA: special.2009.06.11

This,he said,would lead to war between the slave-holding and free states.

VOA: special.2009.03.19