[rustbucket]

Now, as to Helper, it was not unusual at all for the abolitionist wing of the GOP (of which Lincoln was NOT one), to go right to the abolition of slavery in the South, and sure, they latched on to HH like anti-semites do to the "Protocols of the Elders of Zion."

Lincoln's views seem to match those of the Pennsylvania Abolition Society which was founded in 1780. They supported gradual abolition like that that became part of Pennsylvania law. See: Link.

While president, Lincoln proposed compensated abolition for the slave states in the North at $400 a slave, well under the going price for slaves. It didn't go anywhere. He also favored colonization, as did many anti-slavers in the first part of the 19th century.

Lincoln was not what some call a radical abolitionist. The radical abolitionists sprang up about 1830. They favored immediate abolition, and some of them advocated dissolving the Union. A majority of the 120 Republicans in the 1857-1859 Federal Congress endorsed the "we'll stop slavery, by God" type statements in Helper's Book. While Lincoln might not have endorsed those Helper Book statements, he rewarded Hinton Helper with a consulship once he became president.

As an aside, I have an old Pennsylvania Quaker ancestor. He was a member of the ruling council of the colony and a close friend of William Penn. He ended up assisting in a Pennsylvania witch trial. They might have had advanced views about slavery, but if you were a witch, watch out.

[mstar]

Which only shows why "Class" and "Southerner" are a contradiction in terms.

An Oxymoron: Classy Non-Sequitur

[LS]

We’ve had discussions on this board before about “gradual emancipated compensation.” I don’t think it would work, for the very reasons of property values we have discussed. Each remaining slave, after one was purchased, would increase in value, just like the last plot of land on ground intended for a mall or a theme park. If a slave today cost $50, tomorrow’s slave would cost $60 to purchase, irrespective of labor value. I think Lincoln understood this by 1861. It’s also interesting that there WAS a constitutional way he could have freed the slaves and given them land without violating the Constitution: declare all rebels traitors, pardon them after the war, but only after seizing the plantation owners’ lands and giving the 40 acres and a mule to the freedmen.

[central_va]

Lincoln was not what some call a radical abolitionist

Lincoln was an out and out racist to the nth degree.

[lentulusgracchus]

While Lincoln might not have endorsed those Helper Book statements, he rewarded Hinton Helper with a consulship once he became president.

Maybe Old Abe was pulling a Billy Jeff by appointing that boy. Maybe he just wanted him out of town. ;)

After all, Abe was always a little ticklish about criticism and had to protect his flank against Abolitionists as well as Copperheads.