The consensus among historians and Americans in general, is that Abraham Lincoln was our greatest president. Afterall, did he not help free the slaves? He was a champion of freedom and liberty for all Americans, right?
Let's check his words and actions to see if they match the myth and legend that is the 16th president. Lincoln was a highly successful lawyer for over 20 years. During that span of time the Great Emancipator represented slaveowners, and not once did he represent a single runaway slave. In a debate against Stephen Douglas in 1858, Lincoln said the following: "I have no purpose to introduce political and social equality between the white and black races. There is a physical difference in the two, which, in my judgement, will probably forever forbid their living together...and I, as well as Judge Douglas, am in favor of the race to which I belong having the superior position. I have never said anything to the contrary."
In his first inaugural address, he said, "I have no purpose, directly or indirectly, to interfere with the institution of slavery in the States where it exists. I believe I have no lawful right to do so, and I have no inclination to do so."
In 1862, Lincoln wrote a letter to Horace Greeley, the editor of the New York Times. In part, the letter stated: My paramount objective in this struggle is to save the Union, and is not either to save or destroy slavery. If I could save the Union without freeing any slave, I would do it.
Abe's much lauded achievement, the Emancipation Proclamation, in reality, did not free any slaves. It was written so as to apply only to territory held by Confederate rebels. Southern territories held by the Feds, such as Kentucky and Tennessee, were, in fact, exempt from the Proclamation. In other words, it pertained only to areas the Union did not control and therefore could not enforce.
During the Civil War, Lincoln took on dictatorial powers not seen by any prior president. He shut down newspapers that ran editorials opposing his war policies, and imprisoned the editors of these papers. By some estimates, over 13,000 citizens were imprisoned for the crime of disagreeing with the President. There are records of some of these citizens being executed.
The point is, no elected official can or should be trusted. Even Abraham Lincoln ignored or subverted the Constitution, and suspended the basic rights of Americans when it suited his needs. All elected officials should be regarded as men with human failings, and not as saints or royalty free from sin.
To delve further into this unknown side of Lincoln, I recommend two books: THE REAL LINCOLN, by Thomas J. DiLorenzo, and THE REAL LINCOLN, by Webb Garrison.
All true from my research. Lincoln was acting against the Constitution which by right allowed any state to secede from the union.
ReplyDeleteHe was right on one significant account. He was putting an end to central banking by printing "greenbacks". It is my opinion that it was this reason for his assassination. Same with Garfield and Kennedy and the failed attempt to assassinate Jackson who held central banking at bay for over 60 years.