Barrycdog
Major
- Joined
- Jan 6, 2013
- Location
- Buford, Georgia
Its funny, because I don't think that Lincoln and Lee were similar people. But in one instance they seem to frame slavery in similar ways. Lincoln spoke of slavery being an "offense" that God willed to happen, but now wills to end. Lee also describes slavery was something that God will eventually end. The difference is that Lincoln understood the time to end this offence was now in the midst of the terrible "scourge of war." while Lee was banking on it happening in an undefined future.
The difference is that Lincoln understood the time to end this offence was now in the midst of the terrible "scourge of war."
Lincoln understood that it was a "fit and necessary war measure" that would greatly damage the Confederate war efforts. It was that, far more than any moral impulse, that motivated him. With no war, he'd have been as willing to wait as Lee was.
And yet none in the slaveholding states believed such of Lincoln or "Black Republicans" after the 1860 election, and even before it. They were without doubt that slavery would not be secure under Lincoln and his Republican administration.
I don't think this is accurate. Lincoln, with no war, was pursuing a policy he thought would led to "the ultimate extinction" of slavery. He was going to pursue a policy that would peacefully, constitutionally create the conditions where the slave states would abolish slavery themselves. The secessionists also thought he would, if he got the chance.Lincoln understood that it was a "fit and necessary war measure" that would greatly damage the Confederate war efforts. It was that, far more than any moral impulse, that motivated him. With no war, he'd have been as willing to wait as Lee was.
And yet none in the slaveholding states believed such of Lincoln or "Black Republicans" after the 1860 election, and even before it. They were without doubt that slavery would not be secure under Lincoln and his Republican administration.
Lincoln understood that it was a "fit and necessary war measure" that would greatly damage the Confederate war efforts. It was that, far more than any moral impulse, that motivated him. With no war, he'd have been as willing to wait as Lee was.
And yet none in the slaveholding states believed such of Lincoln or "Black Republicans" after the 1860 election, and even before it. They were without doubt that slavery would not be secure under Lincoln and his Republican administration.
@unionblue, I couldn't agree more. His fellow politicians knew Lincoln was an adept politician, and politicians are quick to modify their views as conditions require...
However, the 1860 election was a unique case. Many felt Lincoln would become a puppet of the relatively new Republican Party, a party that featured abolition as a platform ideal. The fact that he resisted ANY form of abolition declaration demonstrates that his political survival was an important factor in his early war decisions.
Lincoln understood that it was a "fit and necessary war measure" that would greatly damage the Confederate war efforts. It was that, far more than any moral impulse, that motivated him. With no war, he'd have been as willing to wait as Lee was.
@Tailor Pete ,
I really don't see your above statement is an agreement with my own posted at the second from the top of this reply to @Andersonh1 post..
What I get from your "agreement" is that Lincoln was a crafty politician who would change directions in whatever political wind was blowing at the time.
This was NOT what I was getting at when I answered @Andersonh1 post. He gave the impression Lincoln would have went along with slavery and left it alone if not for the war. My answer was that even the Southerners of the time did not think such. They were definately afraid slavery would not be secure under Lincoln and his admisistration, hence the reason for their secession. And I recall that the slaveholding South earlier than 1860 had promised secession if ANY Republican candidate, they would leave the Union.
I hope I have been more clear in my meaning.
Sincerely,
Unionblue
Where I was in agreeance was in the Cotton States belief that a Lincoln administration was a threat to their economic peculiarity, namely, slavery.
How that threat was to ultimately play out is where we disagree.
Lincoln had ample opportunity to put an end to slavery early in his tenure, but his decision to wait was clearly motivated by political survival. He needed support from the more timid legislators in Washington, so he had to play the 'game' as it were.
Once conditions were favorable, he turned up the heat on the rebellious states, NOT because we was a waffler, but because it had always been the right thing to do, though the time wasn't conducive any earlier.
This has led a great many to contend Lincoln was a reluctant abolitionist, which he was not. He WAS a shrewd politician, and was probably the ONLY Ieader of national stature at the time, capable of leading our Nation through this Civil Morass.
As far as Lincoln the Puppet goes, there WERE a great many, early on, who assumed he would allow his party to direct his actions. I contend that this was a primary reason for the Cotton States' decision to secede when they did... a miscalculated attempt to force Buchanan to the bargaining table before the Republican forced them into economic ruin (not my opinion, but seemingly the opinion of the Deep South at that time.)
I'm sorry for the confusion, and hope too, that my position is a bit more clear.