Much has been made of the marking today of Abraham Lincoln’s 200th birthday. He’s known by a number of appellations. I’m adding Father of Employment Law to the list.

That’s not too much of a stretch, given Lincoln’s authorship of the Emancipation Proclamation, from which all discrimination and civil rights laws emanate, the first one being the Civil Rights Act of 1866, enacted shortly after his assassination.

Much is always made of Lincoln’s speeches, because of their substance and brevity. The Gettysburg Address is sometimes called his shortest, but that’s wrong. His shortest is perhaps my favorite. It’s over 100 words shorter than the Gettysburg Address and was delivered at the train depot in Springfield, Illinois, when he departed for his first term in the White House. In addition to being short and substantive, this speech, sometimes called his Farewell Address, is one of Lincoln’s most heartfelt.

“My friends, no one, not in my situation, can appreciate my feeling of sadness at this parting. To this place, and the kindness of these people, I owe everything. Here I have lived a quarter of a century, and have passed from a young to an old man. Here my children have been born, and one is buried. I now leave, not knowing when, or whether ever, I may return, with a task before me greater than that which rested upon Washington. Without the assistance of the Divine Being who ever attended him, I cannot succeed. With that assistance I cannot fail. Trusting in Him who can go with me, and remain with you , and be everywhere for good, let us confidently hope that all will yet be well. To His care commending you, as I hope in your prayers you will commend me, I bid you an affectionate farewell.”