Peace does not appear so distant as it did. I hope it will come soon, and come to stay; and so come as to be worth the keeping in all future time. It will then have been proved that, among free men, there can be no successful appeal from the ballot to the bullet; and that they who take such appeal are sure to lose their case, and pay the cost.

Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) American lawyer, politician, US President (1861-65)

Letter (1863-08-26) to James C. Conkling
    (Source)

Sent as a letter to Conkling to read to a rally of Union supporters in Springfield, Illionis (1863-09-03).

Lincoln used the juxtaposition of ballots and bullets a number of times (e.g., 1856, 1858).