Abraham Lincoln saw keeping the United States intact as his most important mission. He was personally against slavery, however, he recognized that under cases decided by the US Supreme Court, the institution of slavery was legal. He also recognized that slavery did not exist as a "Southern" creation. Since before the US was a nation, slavery existed. It was clear to him that slavery could have been abolished long ago. And, that the North was just as guilty as anyone else for the institution of slavery. Lincoln, as the US President, sought to assure the Southern slave States that he had no intention to interfere with slavery where it existed. He did this in his duty to protect the Constitutional rights of all "citizens". He understood that under the Constitution, slaves were not considered "citizens".
Abraham Lincoln opposed the institution of slavery and believed it was morally wrong. He famously declared that "If slavery is not wrong, nothing is wrong" and worked towards its abolition during his presidency.
Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, freeing all slaves in Confederate territory. He also supported the 13th Amendment that abolished slavery in the United States. Lincoln's treatment of slaves was focused on ending the institution of slavery and promoting equality for all individuals.
In the "Fragment on Slavery," Lincoln argues that there is a natural right to equality among all people and that slavery is a violation of that right. He highlights the inconsistency of the American founding principles with the institution of slavery, emphasizing the need to address this moral issue. Lincoln suggests that slavery should be contained and eventually abolished to uphold the principles of freedom and equality.
Abraham Lincoln consistently pledged to enforce the Fugitive Slave Law, i.e., to make northern states complicit in the perpetuation of the peculiar institution. He moreover opposed efforts in the Republican Party to repeal the Fugitive Slave Law. (See his letters to Salmon P. Chase and Samuel Galloway on June 20, 1859 and July 28, 1859, respectively.) Quoted from LewRockwell.com
He wanted to keep the Union together.
In his inaugural address he declared that: ... "I have no intention to interfere, either directly or indirectly, in the institution of slavery in those states where it exists. I think I have no legal right to do, and I have no inclination to do so"...
Abraham Lincoln saw keeping the United States intact as his most important mission. He was personally against slavery, however, he recognized that under cases decided by the US Supreme Court, the institution of slavery was legal. He also recognized that slavery did not exist as a "Southern" creation. Since before the US was a nation, slavery existed. It was clear to him that slavery could have been abolished long ago. And, that the North was just as guilty as anyone else for the institution of slavery. Lincoln, as the US President, sought to assure the Southern slave States that he had no intention to interfere with slavery where it existed. He did this in his duty to protect the Constitutional rights of all "citizens". He understood that under the Constitution, slaves were not considered "citizens".
Abraham Lincoln saw keeping the United States intact as his most important mission. He was personally against slavery, however, he recognized that under cases decided by the US Supreme Court, the institution of slavery was legal. He also recognized that slavery did not exist as a "Southern" creation. Since before the US was a nation, slavery existed. It was clear to him that slavery could have been abolished long ago. And, that the North was just as guilty as anyone else for the institution of slavery. Lincoln, as the US President, sought to assure the Southern slave States that he had no intention to interfere with slavery where it existed. He did this in his duty to protect the Constitutional rights of all "citizens". He understood that under the Constitution, slaves were not considered "citizens".
If memory serves, Lincoln felt that he did not have the right to interfere in the slavery because it was a long standing 'tradition' for lack of a better word. He did not want to undermine the success of those who utilized slaves, though he did not believe in allowing slavery to spread further than the states it was already practiced in.
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In his inaugural address, Lincoln promised not to interfere with the institution of slavery where it existed, and pledged to suspend the activities of the federal government temporarily in areas of hostility. However, he also took a firm stance against secession and the seizure of federal property.
kurtis lincoln