Abraham Lincoln and the Soul of America

Abraham Lincoln, the Union, and Slavery

Abraham Lincoln carries as part of his legacy the bloodiest and most soul-wrenching period in American history. Yet few men embraced the soul of America with more reverence than the sixteenth President of the United States.

In his March 1861 Inaugural Address, President Lincoln addressed a nation that was already divided. He tried to assure the South he would not interfere with slavery within their borders, pointing out that he lacked the legal authority to do so. He denounced as unfounded the "apprehension" of those southerners who feared for their "property, and their peace, and personal security." On the contrary, he promised that "all the protection which, consistently with the Constitution and the laws, can be given, will be cheerfully given to all the States when lawfully demanded, for whatever cause--as cheerfully to one section as to another."

Modern critics of Lincoln point to this concession as an example of his apparent lack of commitment to the cause of civil rights. This is an unfair charge, and ignores the context of Lincoln's remarks. Lincoln's position on slavery is, in some ways, complex, but it was also clearly grounded on sound legal principle and political reality.

First, for all his political life, Lincoln deplored slavery. While he, until late in his life, fell short of endorsing full racial integration, Lincoln was quite progressive for his time and sincerely believed that slavery must end. He clearly regarded blacks as equal to whites insofar as their right to "enjoy the fruit of their labor" was concerned. And he would go on to call for black citizenship and voting rights in the United States toward the end of his presidency.