His reference is to the states that had left the union . He felt that he couldn't allow them to leave.
Abraham Lincoln President said a house divided against itself cannot stand.
Abraham Lincoln
The original quote is from the Gospel of St. Mark: "If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand." It was borrowed by Abraham Lincoln.
"A house divided against itself cannot stand"
When Abraham Lincoln said that a house divided against itself could not stand, he was referring to the issue of slavery. He did not believe the US government could endure operating with one half allowing slavery and the other not.
Abraham Lincoln
No, he wasn't, ha didn't even want to fight, he didn't think about black freedom, but the nation was divided, as he said a nation divided against itself, cannot satnd
Abraham Lincoln
Yes, called the 'House Divided speech', it was given by him in June 1858, in Illinois after he accepted the nomination for senator.
He didn't say that in a debate, but in the Gettysburg Address. It is probably one of the greatest speeches any president has given.
compromises over slavery
A baby can not stand. "A house divided against itself cannot stand" is a quote from an English language translation of the Gospel of Mark. The quote was used in a famous speech by Abraham Lincoln in regard to the U.S. Civil War.