Who said “Among free men there can be no successful appeal from the ballot to the bullet.”?

Verified

Abraham Lincoln. A published source records them saying or writing it.

SourceLetter to James C. Conkling (1863)

Evidence: Wikiquote · How we check

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Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: Letter to James C. Conkling (1863).

APA

Lincoln, A. (n.d.). Among free men there can be no successful appeal from the ballot to the bullet. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/41654-among-free-men-there-can-be-no-successful/

MLA

Lincoln, Abraham. “Among free men there can be no successful appeal from the ballot to the bullet.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/41654-among-free-men-there-can-be-no-successful/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Lincoln, Abraham. “Among free men there can be no successful appeal from the ballot to the bullet.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/41654-among-free-men-there-can-be-no-successful/.

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