Abraham Lincoln and the Soul of America

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.

Why then did he make such an assurance to the South in 1861? And why did he wait until 1862 to make slavery an issue of the Civil War? For one thing, Lincoln was correct that he lacked the legal and constitutional standing to interfere with slavery in the southern states. Rightly or wrongly, the United States Constitution did protect slavery to some extent in its original form, and it most certainly and emphatically limited the power of the federal government in intervene in state matters. Having just taken an oath to "preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States," it is unreasonable for anyone today to expect that Lincoln should've acted outside the law to bring about an end to slavery - no matter how dreadful the practice.

Lincoln was, after all, a lawyer. And his fidelity to the law is what separated him from many northern abolitionists, including William Lloyd Garrison (who at one point brazenly burned a copy of the Constitution to protest its tacit allowance for slavery).
Even when the Civil War was thrust upon him and he quite rightly understood that slavery must end in order to fully restore the Union, he still worked within the parameters of the law.

His Emancipation Proclamation excluded those states and territories loyal to the Union because, among other reasons, he had little choice. He simply did not have the authority, not even as Commander-in-Chief, to circumvent the Constitution and trespass on the rights of loyal states. He could, however, take action to free the slaves of the rebellious South, because striking at the heart of the Confederate economy was a valid wartime strategy. This rationale would not apply to loyal slave states such as Maryland.

Critics of Lincoln from the political Left and Right argue that his narrow Emancipation Proclamation proves that he only played the slavery issue for political and diplomatic gain. Yet this interpretation ignores the legal issues at stake. Far more indicative of Lincoln's personal wishes on the matter of slavery is his support for the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution. With his full support, the Republican Party platform of 1864 called for an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would abolish slavery throughout the entire United States - North and South - forever.

Lincoln spent the vast majority of his political life campaigning against slavery, denouncing it in the strongest possible terms whenever he could. But he did not believe slavery should be assaulted at the expense of the Constitution or the Union. With this balance in mind, Lincoln was convinced he was aligned with the Founders.

Lincoln pledged to stand firmly behind the Union, with force if necessary. In so doing, he wasn't, as some southern detractors even today would argue, manifesting bitter dictatorial aspirations. On the contrary, he was demonstrating his ardent commitment to the U.S. Constitution, the handiwork of the Founding Fathers he so admired and venerated.

His commitment to that Constitution would be tested over the four years of brutal civil war. Lincoln's dogged persistence and determination must be counted as perhaps the leading decisive factor in ultimate Union victory in the war. Few other men would have weathered such a conflict - one that cost the lives of over 600,000 people, wreaked havoc on the nation's culture and economy, and forever changed the course of history.

Abraham Lincoln would see the war wind down, but would not live to see its ultimate resolution. Instead, he would give his own life as a martyr to the cause of the Union.
Lincoln was more than a savior of the Union, however. He was perhaps the greatest champion of the Founding Fathers ever to occupy the presidency. His speeches were replete with quotes from the Founders and he repeatedly appealed to the values they inculcated into our heritage.

Many have argued that Lincoln redefined the Founders' principles to his advantage. This displays an ignorance of the Founders' own views. Lincoln's rhetoric about slavery, the Union, God's judgment, and so forth are almost identical to those views expressed by Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, or John Adams.

Like the Founders, Lincoln was willing to compromise on slavery in the short term to preserve the Union (his first love) in the long run. When saving the Union through compromise was not possible, Lincoln turned to the sword to preserve that same Union -- and used every legal means necessary to bring an end to the evil institution of slavery. He was successful on both counts ultimately, helping to preserve not only the Union of America, but its very soul.