Replies

Kalamata to Bull Snipe: "I believe you are correct. Thanks for the info. . .”

jeffersondem: "That is the way to take responsibility for an error; straightforward, cheerful, and to the point.
It adds even more credibility to everything else you have posted."

Among the inventory of standard lies Lost Causers bring to these threads is: "Lincoln signed the Corwin Amendment".
After being quickly corrected, this usually devolves to "Lincoln supported Corwin".
When it turns out he didn't support Corwin publicly, that devolves further to "Lincoln secretly supported Corwin."

And this final claim is based on just who's say-so?
Well, a young staffer who thought he heard somebody say something about Lincoln, so it must be true!
Sort of like that "whistleblower" against President Trump today.

The truth is that in December 1860 there were many such "compromise" proposals floating around, including a much stronger one protecting slavery, from Mississippi Senator Jefferson Davis.
As often the case, Congress was desperate to "do something", anything that might save the situation.
Lincoln opposed all those proposals and so they all died in committee or elsewhere.

But Corwin had support from all Democrats and a few Republicans, notably NY Senator Seward, Lincoln's ally & future Secretary of State.
Historians think that at this point Seward was pretty much a loose cannon, acting on his own with or without Lincoln's knowledge.
What's certain is that Lincoln did not publicly oppose Corwin and Seward eventually rounded up a big enough minority of Republicans to join with Democrats and pass Corwin.
So Corwin passed mainly by Democrats and was signed by Democrat President Buchanan.

Why did Lincoln not oppose Corwin?
Because, he said in effect: it was pure eyewash, typical Congress trying to "do something" and in fact made no real change to slavery as it was then recognized.
And it might help keep some Border States from secession, which it did.
Corwin satisfied Unionist Democrats and RINO Republicans, especially in Border States which is where, in 1861, Lincoln thought the Union would be won or lost.

But it had no effect on Confederate states which already had much stronger protections of slavery written into their own constitution.

It's interesting to notice that among the Border States, Missouri & Delaware did not ratify Corwin while Kentucky (1861) & Maryland (1862) did.
Maryland then flipped and abolished slavery on its own, in 1864, while Kentucky refused to ratify the 13th Amendment until 1976!
Only Mississippi took longer.

>>Kalamata to Bull Snipe: "I believe you are correct. Thanks for the info. . ."
>>jeffersondem wrote: "That is the way to take responsibility for an error; straightforward, cheerful, and to the point. It adds even more credibility to everything else you have posted."
>>Joey wrote: "Among the inventory of standard lies Lost Causers bring to these threads is: "Lincoln signed the Corwin Amendment".

Joey lies so much he longer knows how to determine a lie from an error. There is a term for that condition; I believe it is called a "pathological liar."

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>>Joey wrote: "After being quickly corrected, this usually devolves to "Lincoln supported Corwin". When it turns out he didn't support Corwin publicly, that devolves further to "Lincoln secretly supported Corwin. And this final claim is based on just who's say-so? Well, a young staffer who thought he heard somebody say something about Lincoln, so it must be true! Sort of like that "whistleblower" against President Trump today."
>>Joey wrote: "The truth is that in December 1860 there were many such "compromise" proposals floating around, including a much stronger one protecting slavery, from Mississippi Senator Jefferson Davis. As often the case, Congress was desperate to "do something", anything that might save the situation. Lincoln opposed all those proposals and so they all died in committee or elsewhere. But Corwin had support from all Democrats and a few Republicans, notably NY Senator Seward, Lincoln's ally & future Secretary of State. Historians think that at this point Seward was pretty much a loose cannon, acting on his own with or without Lincoln's knowledge. What's certain is that Lincoln did not publicly oppose Corwin and Seward eventually rounded up a big enough minority of Republicans to join with Democrats and pass Corwin. So Corwin passed mainly by Democrats and was signed by Democrat President Buchanan. Why did Lincoln not oppose Corwin? Because, he said in effect: it was pure eyewash, typical Congress trying to "do something" and in fact made no real change to slavery as it was then recognized. And it might help keep some Border States from secession, which it did. Corwin satisfied Unionist Democrats and RINO Republicans, especially in Border States which is where, in 1861, Lincoln thought the Union would be won or lost. But it had no effect on Confederate states which already had much stronger protections of slavery written into their own constitution..

The historical record points to Lincoln's acceptance and promotion, Joey; but what's wrong with a little revisionist history among "FRiends?"

Are you familiar with History Professor Daniel W. Crofts, who wrote the book, Lincoln and the Politics of Slavery? Professor Crofts is also a devout Lincolnite; and this is what he had to say about the Corwin Amendment:

Youtube: Daniel Crofts speech

Frankly, nothing makes sense if slavery was the chief reason for secession.

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>>Joey wrote: "It's interesting to notice that among the Border States, Missouri & Delaware did not ratify Corwin while Kentucky (1861) & Maryland (1862) did. Maryland then flipped and abolished slavery on its own, in 1864, while Kentucky refused to ratify the 13th Amendment until 1976! Only Mississippi took longer."

One minor point: Maryland's political leaders had been arrested by federal soldiers early on, and the state was placed under the heavy-handed suppression of Lincoln's martial law. Therefore the state was later exempted from the so-called "Emancipation Proclamation."

Mr. Kalamata