lincolns views
"I have never had a feeling, politically, that did not spring from ...
the Declaration of Independence ... that all should have an equal
chance. This is the sentiment embodied in the Declaration of Independence
... I would rather be assassinated on this spot than surrender it."
(Abraham Lincoln 1809-1865) 16th US President
"I will say then that I am not, nor ever have been in favor of bringing
about in anyway the social and political equality of the white and
black races - that I am not nor ever have been in favor of making voters or
jurors of negroes, nor of qualifying them to hold office, nor to
intermarry with white people; and I will say in addition to this that there
is a physical difference between the white and black races which I
believe will forever forbid the two races living together on terms of social
and political equality. And inasmuch as they cannot so live, while they
do remain together there must be the position of superior and inferior,
and I as much as any other man am in favor of having the superior
position assigned to the white race. I say upon this occasion I do not
perceive that because the white man is to have the superior position the
negro should be denied everything."(Abraham Lincoln 1809-1865) 16th US President Source: Fourth Debate with Stephen A. Douglas at Charleston,
Illinois, September 18, 1858 (The Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln
edited by Roy P. Basler, Volume III, pp. 145-146.)
"My paramount object in this struggle is to save the Union, and is not
either to save or to destroy slavery. If I could save the Union without
freeing any slave I would do it, and if I could save it by freeing all
the slaves I would do it; and if I could save it by freeing some and
leaving others alone I would also do that. (Abraham Lincoln
1809-1865) 16th US President Source: Letter to Horace Greeley, August
22, 1862
President Lincoln was not in favor of freeing the slaves he only did it. Out of popular vote and to save the union.
|
